by ReformtheUN.org, 3 August 2007
The General Assembly yesterday adopted by consensus Resolution 61/292 on "Revitalization of the role and authority of the General Assembly and strengthening its performance".
No discussion took place beforehand, and the only statements following its adoption were those of co-facilitator Daniele Bodini of San Marino and the President of the Assembly, Haya Rashed Al Khalifa. The Resolution formally establishes an ad hoc working group on GA revitalization, at the 62nd session of the GA. Its role will be to "evaluate and assess the status of implementation of relevant resolutions, to identify ways to further enhance the role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency of the General Assembly, inter alia, by building on previous resolutions, and to submit a report thereupon to the General Assembly."
Before action was taken on the draft Resolution yesterday, a representative of the UN Secretariat stated that the Working Group would not require any additional Conference Servicing resources, as its meetings would never be scheduled at the same time as meetings of the Assembly itself or of any other committee. The Resolution stresses the importance of implementing existing Resolutions on revitalization of the General Assembly. It also asks the UN Secretary-General to submit an annual report to assist the Member States in monitoring and ensuring the Resolutions' implementation. It specifies five Resolutions (58/126, 58/316, 59/313, 60/286, and the Resolution adopted yesterday), which the Secretary-General's report should address in terms of their implementation to date. Yesterdays' Resolution also specifically "reaffirms" 14 Resolutions adopted between December 1991 and September 2006 relating to revitalization of the Assembly's work and role. The Secretary-General's report should form the basis of the Working Group's efforts in the 62nd Session. Yesterday's decision followed a series of consultations that began in mid-March 2007. An earlier draft Resolution (in the form of a facilitators' non-paper) circulated during those consultations did not find consensus agreement, and its contents were not included in nor addressed by the final draft Resolution.
The co-facilitators also are producing a report summarizing their ideas for further Assembly revitalization efforts, which they hope will inform the Working Group in its efforts during the 62nd Session of the General Assembly. The 62nd session begins in September 2007.