Fonds AG-015 - United Nations Department of Political and General Assembly Affairs (1972-1991)

Functions included political responsibilities as assigned, all General Assembly matters including provision of secretariat, direction to the Division of Human Rights, direction to Sahelian Office, coordination of relations with non-governmental organizations, and acting as the HQ liaison with the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief coordinator (ST/SGB/ Organization, Section F, July 1975). Until the 1960s General Assembly functions were carried out by the General Assembly Section of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. In 1976, the United Nations Sahelian Office was transferred from the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Political and General Assembly Affairs to the United Nations Development Programme. The Office worked with the Secretary-General in coordination of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. In 1991, there was a major restructuring in the Secretariat. One of the major aspects was the creation of the Department of Political Affairs, which incorporated the functions of the Department for Political and General Assembly Affairs and Secretariat Services. The Under-Secretary-General from 1972-1975 was F. Bradford Morse, followed by William B. Buffum (1976-1986), Joseph Verner Reed (1987-1988), and Ronald I. Spiers (1989-1991).