Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you, Chair and to the speakers for sharing their presentations and information today.
In the view of CANZ, the First Committee remains an important part of the multilateral disarmament machinery. The First Committee provides the opportunity to address a wide range of issues that are integral to the international disarmament and international security agenda, from nuclear weapons, to outer space, autonomous weapons, and cyber security.
At the same time, CANZ approaches the work of all Committees aware of the continuing need for reform and greater efficiencies across the UN system. GA resolution 80/251 under UN80 Workstream 2, as well as GA resolution 79/327 on General Assembly Revitalisation, and GA decision A/79/516 on transparency in vote calls, provide important context and informing guidance to these discussions.
This means that while CANZ recognises that some core disarmament issues will require ongoing, and at times increased attention, we also welcome further improvement in the working methods of the First Committee. Improvements we can already identify include encouraging the trend for more concise statements, stricter limits on speaking, greater transparency in procedural decisions of the Committee, and a more focused meeting structure. In addition, and consistent with the GA resolutions mentioned earlier, Member States contributing to the Committee’s work should continue to review, and where possible, streamline their approach towards overall number of resolutions they propose each year, along with the periodicity of some resolutions that are considered, especially those that have remained largely static for many years. The high volume of resolutions each session ultimately contributes to a diluted focus and more superficial discussions. This creates the risk that we fail to adequately grapple with the key issues of the day. And, it can stretch and even exceed the resources of smaller delegations to meaningfully engage.
On the topic of streamlining resolutions, CANZ invites their proponents to consider length reductions, particularly in preambular sections, and more broadly to consider the elements of mandate creation, implementation and review in both continuing mandates but also where new mandates are required to advance key issues.
In the context of stakeholder considerations, CANZ continues to underscore the important role of civil society in strengthening the quality and inclusiveness of the First Committee’s work, and we support continued efforts to enhance their meaningful participation, including by addressing practical barriers to their access. We also further highlight the importance of striving for gender parity in the work of the Committee, including among speakers and panelists in high-level and thematic meetings.
On the importance of transparency, CANZ reiterates our support to the South Africa and Singapore decision, “Information on requests for votes”, passed at UNGA79. We believe that transparency, including within the Committee’s work, is a vital ingredient for building common understanding which, in turn, is necessary for addressing matters of international peace and security.
I thank you Chair.