15 Oct 2021
1 Together with my colleague Maitê De Souza Schmitz from Brazil, I have the honour of co-coordinating, on behalf of the Bureau, the informal consultations for the draft resolution under agenda item 88, entitled “Strengthening and promoting the international treaty framework”.
Mdm Chair,
2 This agenda item was first included in the agenda of this Committee to achieve several objectives. The first was to have a platform for this Committee to review the regulations to give effect to Article 102 of the UN Charter. The second was to provide an opportunity for Member States to consider how shortcomings in treaty registration could be addressed. The third was to have an exchange of views on treaty-making practice and identify trends and share best practices in treaty-making, as well as discuss other treaty-related topics.
3 In the first resolution under this agenda item, which was adopted at the 73rd session, consensus was achieved on amendments to bring the regulations in line with the latest developments in treaty registration practice and information technology. The resolution, however, noted that some Member States considered that there remained outstanding issues where the regulations could require further consideration or possible updating. The discussions on the regulations were to continue at the last session. However, due to the challenges arising from the global pandemic, the Committee decided to focus its efforts on the text of the resolution and defer consideration of proposals to amend the regulations to the 76th session.
Mdm Chair,
4 The co-coordinators’ intention is to circulate, as soon as possible, a zero draft of a resolution for this agenda item, based on General Assembly resolution 75/144 that was adopted at the last session, with the necessary technical updates. I wish to highlight three other aspects of the zero draft.
(a) First, similar to the resolution for the 73rd session, the zero draft will include, as an annex, the regulations to give effect to Article 102 of the UN Charter, with the proposals to amend the regulations that have been submitted to date reflected.
(b) Second, taking into account the views expressed during the debate on this agenda item, the zero draft will suggest a number of options for sub-topics that could be the subject of a thematic debate at future sessions under this agenda item.
(c) Third, the zero draft will also suggest language to support the organisation of workshops on treaty law and practice by the UN Treaty Section.
Mdm Chair,
5 The co-coordinators thank delegations for their willingness to engage on the proposals to amend the regulations at the initial informal meetings that we convened on 10 September, and 7 and 11 October. We look forward to working with all delegations towards the successful conclusion of our important work on the resolution and the regulations.
6 Thank you very much for your attention.
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