Source: United Nations (video statements)
The UN General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution to strengthen how mandates for UN organizations are created, implemented and reviewed – marking a major milestone under the UN80 Initiative.
Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the adoption, describing it as a “historic resolution” and “a major step” that establishes a critical building block for a 21st century United Nations system that is more effective, more accountable and better equipped to deliver results in a changing world.
“The resolution adopted today reflects a shared understanding of the full mandate lifecycle – and a shared commitment to strengthen each step of it,” the Secretary-General told Member States.
“Today’s resolution helps translate the ambition of the UN80 Initiative into concrete, practical action.”
Mandates – decisions adopted by Member States that guide the work of the United Nations – sit at the core of the Organization’s ability to deliver on peace and security, development, human rights and humanitarian assistance.
The resolution strengthens the full mandate lifecycle by introducing measures to: Strengthen mandate creation, bringing greater discipline, coherence and transparency, and encouraging mandates that are clearer, sharper and more focused, backed by better information for decision-making from the outset; Strengthen implementation, with more user-oriented and data-driven reporting, better coordination and more effective use of resources; Strengthen review and accountability, including through a culture of continuous improvement grounded in evidence, accountability and results.
Together, these measures aim to reduce duplication and fragmentation, while easing the reporting burden on Member States and strengthening delivery across the system.
The resolution builds on the work of the General Assembly’s Informal Ad Hoc Working Group on the Mandate Implementation Review, co-chaired by Ambassador Brian Wallace of Jamaica and Ambassador Carolyn Schwalger of New Zealand.