Vidisha Maitra was one of two candidates proposed by the Group of Asia-Pacific States (FILE)
The United Nations:
In a significant victory for India at the United Nations, Indian diplomat Vidisha Maitra was elected to the United Nations Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), a subsidiary body of the General Assembly.
Within the Asia-Pacific Group of States, Maitra, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, won 126 votes.
The 193-member General Assembly appoints the members of the Advisory Committee. Members are selected on the basis of wide geographical representation, personal qualifications and experience.
Ms. Maitra was one of two candidates put forward by the Group of Asian and Pacific States. In the group, Ali Mohammed Faeq Al-Dabag from Iraq received 64 votes.
The Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, which deals with administrative and budgetary matters, recommended Ms. Maitra to the Assembly for a three-year term starting January 1, 2021.
The victory comes as India prepares to sit on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member for a two-year term starting in January 2021.
India’s Permanent Representative to UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti said in a video message that Ms. Maitra was elected to the UN ACABQ on Friday “in a strong show of support from member states of the UN”.
He said he was confident that Ms Maitra “will bring an independent, objective and much needed gender perspective to the functioning of ACABQ”.
Mr. Tirumurti expressed his gratitude to all the member states which supported India in this “crucial election and restored confidence in our candidate”.
He said ACABQ ensures that financial contributions to the United Nations system are satisfactorily implemented and mandates are properly funded. He noted that India’s membership in ACABQ is particularly relevant now, as the UN budget is under increasing pressure.
“India has a remarkable track record in bringing professional audit experience to the UN and providing outstanding professionals to UN bodies,” he said, adding that with the growing obligations of the India in terms of assessed and voluntary contributions to the UN, “we take the administrative and budgetary management responsibility for the functioning of the United Nations very seriously.”
Mr. Tirumurti stressed that this is of greater importance in the context of India’s tenure on the Security Council for 2021-2022.
The ACABQ is made up of 16 members appointed by the Assembly in an individual capacity.
The main functions of the Advisory Committee are to examine and report on the budget presented by the Secretary General to the General Assembly and to advise the General Assembly on any administrative and budgetary matter referred to it.
It also examines, on behalf of the General Assembly, the administrative budgets of the specialized agencies and the proposals for financial arrangements with these institutions; and to consider and report to the General Assembly on the reports of the auditors on the accounts of the United Nations and the specialized agencies.
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