12 Sep 2019
STATEMENT BY THE PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE DURING THE INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON DEMOCRATIC AND EQUITABLE INTERNATIONAL ORDER, 12 SEPTEMBER 2019
Mr President,
We thank the Independent Expert for his Report on public participation and decision-making in global governance spaces.
Singapore agrees with the Independent Expert’s observation that global governance spaces outside the traditional UN system have a considerable impact on the international order.
This is the reason why Singapore initiated the “Global Governance Group”, also known as the 3G, in 2009 as an informal platform for greater engagement between the G20 and the wider UN membership.
The 3G is currently a cross-regional group of 30 small and medium-sized States. Over the years, there have been 11 informal 3G Ministerial Meetings, including with the participation of a troika of past, present and future G20 Presidents, with the most recent such meeting taking place on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly in 2018.
As part of the 3G’s efforts to promote inclusive and transparent global governance, it has over the years emphasised the centrality of the UN as the only global body with universal participation and unquestioned legitimacy, and advocated for actions by the G20 to complement and strengthen the UN system. In addition, the 3G has repeatedly affirmed the importance of maintaining the practice by successive G20 Presidents to invite the UN Secretary-General to participate at the G20 Summit, and for each G20 President to update the UN membership on the Summit outcomes.
The 3G has also collectively engaged the G20 on a variety of substantive topics relating to the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights such as liveable cities, labour and food security, and has been highly supportive of the G20’s efforts to complement the UN’s development agenda.
Thank you.
. . . . .