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1. On
July 26, 2004, former Chairman of the Second Committee for
the 58th session of the General Assembly, submitted a set of
proposals to "ensure a more practical and coherent
organization of the Committee's work." Most recommendations
have been implemented during the 59th session, including:
(a) early meeting with the incoming Bureau; (b) extensive
use of question-and-answer sessions; (c) better use of the
Second Committee's website; (d) early distribution and
consultation of the organization of work (L.1); (e) avoidance of overlapping with plenary sessions; (f) elaboration and distribution of Chairman's summary of the
General Debate; (g) extensive but rational use of panels,
keynote speakers and round tables; (h) compliance of
deadlines for submission of draft resolutions; (i) early
start of negotiations and, in some cases, early adoption of
resolutions; and (j) clustering and better sequencing for
the consideration of the Second Committee's agenda.
2. Nevertheless,
much remains to be done. The suggestions of having
extensive consultations with the Bureau of the Third
Committee and identifying potential joint debates or
meetings have to be implemented. Likewise, there have been
no major advances in perhaps the most far-reaching
recommendations, namely: (a) to appoint
facilitators/coordinators to assist from day one with the
preparations and negotiations of draft resolutions; (b) to
adopt resolutions in close proximity to the end of the
consideration of the agenda item or cluster; (c) to reduce
the number of resolutions; (d) to improve the nature of
resolutions (more concise and action-oriented); (e) to
close in time and according with the programme of work of
the Second Committee; and (f) better structure of the
Second Committee's agenda.
3. We
need to build on the achievement reached so far and to
implement further measures to improve the efficiency and
efficacy of the work of the Second Committee. Our goal
should be to transform this organ into a body that truly
allows all countries to collectively analyze and discuss in
a balanced way current and pressing challenges as reflected
in the agenda of the Second Committee and foster agreements
and partnership to overcome them.
4. The
President and all members of the Bureau of the Second
Committee for the 59th session of the GA were and are fully
committed to improve the organization, programme and methods
of work of the Second Committee. This is the main thrust of
past endeavors and it is a calling for a collective and deep
assessment of the results achieved after the completion of
our work, as well as for the submission of the following
measures to further revitalize the work of the Second
Committee.
A. Methods of Work
5. The primary objective of reaching consensus, which has
traditionally been the guiding principle of the work of the
Second Committee, should be preserved within the framework
of the rules of procedure that allow different courses of
action. In our efforts to reform our methods of work it is
important that we preserve the quality of the resolutions
that are adopted. The final outcomes need to be meaningful
and add value to the issues under consideration.
Discussions and events which are linked to the work of the
Second Committee and which could bring about a broad
understanding of new ideas and trends could lead to the
injection of such ideas and trends into draft resolutions.
I suggest maintaining the practice of allocating enough
time after the formal consideration of each cluster of the
programme of work to allow delegations to engage in
negotiations in order to approve the draft resolutions on a
rolling basis. Our experience demonstrates that when there
is the will, delegations can submit draft proposals on time.
However, they need more time to finish negotiations. In
this spirit it is proposed that:
(a) Member States should recommit themselves to
presenting draft resolutions by the deadlines,
(b) More time should be allocated to negotiations
after the formal consideration of a Cluster, and
(c) Different dates should be fixed along the session
to adopt resolutions.
6. If
the need arises, prior to the adoption of draft resolutions,
the Chairman may wish to schedule formal informals.
7. In
order to ensure the timely consideration of the sub-items
under the "Macroeconomic policy questions" cluster, and
based on the results of prior consultations by the Chairman
of the Second Committee with the Representatives of Member
States in the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board, the
Committee could request the Committee of Conference to
advance the timing of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board
meeting so that its report is available by the middle in
September.
8.
The nomination of all facilitators should continue to be
made during the first 2 weeks of the session of the Second
Committee.
9. Member
States could continue to assess the feasibility of
strengthening the role of the facilitators on a pilot basis
on a few resolutions, which in the view of the Bureau
warrant early consideration. The facilitators would be
responsible for consulting and writing the first draft of
the resolution. The facilitators could begin their work
immediately, collecting views of the delegations and
ensuring that the draft reflects the interests of all Member
States. The draft would become a facilitator's draft.
10. The
longstanding practice of inviting key speakers and
organizing panels and round tables should be strengthened.
The Secretariat must consult well in advance with the
Bureau about the preparation of such events. While micro
management should be avoided and the discretion of the
Bureau to organize such events should be preserved, Member
States should be informed about such events at the beginning
of the session of the Second Committee. Care must be taken
not to overload the programme of work of the Second
Committee. The timing of these activities should be in
proximity to the substantive discussion of the relevant
agenda items to help inject new ideas for consideration in
the negotiating process. Attention should also be given to
the increasing role of side events organized by Member
States which are related to the agenda of the Second
Committee and which would attract the participation of the
members of the Committee. Member States might consider
informing the Secretariat and the Bureau of their intention
in this respect so that time can be set aside for these
events.
11. There
is a shared view of the need to revitalize the General
Debate to serve as a basis to inform the Second Committee
and provide a space for policy dialogue among Member States.
12. It
is necessary to ensure that documentation is available in
accordance with the six-week rule for the distribution of
documents simultaneously in the six official languages of
the General Assembly (A/RES/ 55/222).
13. Delegations
should try to benefit in full from the question-and-answer
time by having at least 30-45 minutes of discussion with the
officials responsible of the preparation and presentation of
the reports. Officials should be well prepared to give
answers to the questions posted to them and delegations
could use this space to express concerns.
14. Member
States could evaluate using the consideration of agenda
items as an opportunity to exchange lessons learned and
highlight their own experiences in addition to stating their
national positions. In any case, efforts should be made to
deliver brief and concise statements.
15. All
efforts should be made to reach consensus in a timely
fashion. Enough time should be allocated to the drafting of
forward-looking resolutions which reflect current trends and
realities.
16. Resolutions
should be concise and action oriented and the Committee
should observe the provisions of the General Assembly
resolutions in this regard, in particular, 57/270 B.
17. In
order to facilitate monitoring implementation of
resolutions, reports should focus on implementation by the
various actors addressed in the resolutions. Special
emphasis should be placed on the implementation by the UN
system.
B. Agenda
The General Assembly may wish to reconsider the allocation
of the sub-items "Strengthening of the coordination of
humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United
Nations, including special economic assistance: Special
economic assistance to individual countries or regions" and
"Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and
disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including
special economic assistance: Participation of volunteers,
'White Helmets" in the activities of the United Nations in
the field of humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and
technical cooperation for development" to the Second
Committee.
Indicative programme of work of the Second Committee
1.
Macroeconomic policy questions:
(a) International trade and development (annual)
(b) International financial system and development
(annual)
(c) External debt crisis and development (annual)
[(d) Commodities (biennial)]
2.
Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the
International Conference on Financing for Development:
(a) Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of
the International Conference on Financing for Development
(annual)
(b) High-level dialogue for the implementation of the
outcome of the International Conference on Financing for
Development (biennial)
3.
Sustainable development:
(a) Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for
the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of
the World Summit on Sustainable Development (annual)
[(b) Report of the Governing Council of UNEP (annual)
New Item]
(c) Further implementation of the outcome of the
Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small
Island Developing States and follow-up to the outcomes of
the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of
the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of
Small Island Developing States (annual)
(d) International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
(annual)
(e) Protection of global climate for present and
future generations of mankind (annual)
(f) Sustainable development in mountain regions
(biennial)
(g) Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy,
including the implementation of the World Solar Programme
1996-2005 (biennial)
[(h) Implementation of the United Nations Convention
to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing
Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in
Africa
(biennial)* [1] ]
[(i) Convention on Biological Diversity (biennial)* ]
(j) United Nations Decade of Education for
Sustainable Development (quinquennial)
(k) Rendering assistance to poor mountain countries
to overcome obstacles in socio-economic and ecological areas
(60th General Assembly)
4.
Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations
Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and
strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements
Programme (UN-Habitat) (annual)
5.
Globalization and interdependence:
[(a) Globalization and interdependence (annual)]
(b) Industrial development cooperation (biennial)
(c) International migration and development
(biennial)
(d) Preventing and combating corrupt practices and
transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such
assets to the countries of origin (annual)
[(e) Information and communications technologies for
development (biennial)* ]
(f) Integration of the economies in transition into
the world economy (biennial)
6.
Eradication of poverty and other development issues:
(a) Implementation of the first United Nations Decade
for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) (annual)
[(b) Microcredit and microfinance (annual) New Item]
[(c) Human resources development (biennial)]
[(d) Science and technology for development (annual)* ]
(e) Women in development (biennial)*
[(f) Culture and development (triennial)* ]
7.
Groups of countries in special situations:
(a) Third United Nations Conference on the Least
Developed Countries (annual)
(b) Specific actions relating to the particular needs
and problems of landlocked developing countries: Outcome of
the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and
Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and
International Financial and Development Institutions on
Transit Transport Cooperation (annual)
8.
Operational activities for development:
(a) Operational activities for development of the
United Nations system (annual)
(b) Triennial policy review of operational activities
for development of the United Nations system (triennial)
[(c) South-South cooperation: economic and technical
cooperation among developing countries (biennial)]
[(d) Towards global partnership (biennial)]
9.
Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,
and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over
their natural resources (annual)
10.
Training and research
(a) United Nations Institute for Training and
Research (biennial)*
(b) United Nations System Staff College in Turin,
Italy (biennial)
(c) United Nations University (biennial)
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