ACt statement on the revitalization of the work of the general assembly 10 september 2021

Mr. President:

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency Group — “ACT” —which is a cross-regional group comprised of 27 small and mid-sized States including my own country, Denmark.[1]

At the outset, the ACT Group would like to take this opportunity to pay a special tribute to Her Excellency Mrs. Egriselda González López, Permanent Representative of El Salvador, and His Excellency Mr. Michal Mlynár, Permanent Representative of Slovakia, for their dedicated work as Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly during the 75th Session and their efforts to hold in-person negotiations as much as possible despite the extraordinary circumstances imposed  by the pandemic.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has naturally affected the work of the General Assembly and the UN more generally, it has also offered us an opportunity to reflect on the General Assembly’s effectiveness at adapting its working methods in a way that enables us to continue to address global challenges as they evolve.

ACT welcomes the progress made in this year’s resolution and the spirit of collaboration shown by Member States and groups participating in the negotiations. We looked at possibilities for further streamlining our agenda, for dedicating more time for genuine dialogue; for reviewing the implementation of resolutions; and for furthering the quality and effectiveness of working methods.

We also made important strides to adjust the starting date of the opening of future sessions of the General Assembly; adopted new guidelines to limit the number of high-level events as well as side events held in the margins of the General Debate, and took new initiatives to strengthen the work of the Office of the President of the General Assembly.

In addition, we addressed the multiplicity and overlap of events and issues by incorporating the recommendations made by the alignment process as regards the agendas of the General Assembly, the ECOSOC and their subsidiary bodies, especially its Second and Third Committees, in light of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Furthermore, we celebrate the call of this year’s resolution for gender parity for all high-level events and for senior level positions, and the recognition that there is yet to be a female Secretary-General, while inviting Member States to bear this in mind in the near future, when nominating candidates for the position of the Secretary-General

For ACT, we set out into proceedings with the aim of achieving an enhanced, transparent, and inclusive General Assembly. And while the outcome document is certainly a step in the right direction, there are discussions and issues that remain unresolved that we must bring with us into the 77^th Session. ACT therefore underlines the following aspects of the nomination and selection process of the Secretary General as pending:

First, we call for a clarified timeline for the overall process. A structured timeframe calling for the starting point of the process to be October of the year preceding the appointment, and including a deadline for the presentation of candidates to ensure a transparent and inclusive process. It will ease procedural burdens and improve the clarity of the process for Member States and candidates alike.

Second, we maintain our calls to explore further the prospect of multiple candidates being recommended by the Security Council for the General Assembly’s consideration. ACT thinks that, for the world’s forefront diplomatic post, the selection process should be as thorough as possible.

Third, we maintain our calls that it is highly appropriate and timely, as well as of great historical importance, that this organization selects a female Secretary-General after 80 years of uninterrupted male leadership. We recognize the importance of inviting Member States to present female candidates as we agreed this year in paragraph 68 of the draft resolution, and the group steadfastly encourages the Security Council to include women for appointment by the General Assembly.

Fourth, we reiterate our call for a thorough discussion on the term of office of the Secretary-General, including the consideration of a longer, single, non-renewable term for future Secretary Generals. ACT looks forward to discussions with the entire membership well before the appointment of the term anticipated to begin in 2027.

Besides, ACT also requests further discussion on the Annual Report of the Security Council to the General Assembly, in view of its more substantive, analytical, and material account. Without interfering in the prerogatives and mandates of the Charter to the Security Council, this will facilitate and strengthen the indispensable and symbiotic relationship between the Council and the General Assembly.

Mr. President:

Strengthening the work of the General Assembly is key to ensuring that this “chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations remains relevant, adaptable, and most importantly, capable of addressing a plethora of global problems that require global solutions. 

I thank you.