Outcomes of resolutions on revitalization
In accordance with resolution on revitalization, the Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, assisted by the Secretariat, prepare the inventory chart for consideration by Member States. The inventory chart reflects the progress achieved. The Co-Chairs, assisted by the Secretariat, obtained updated information, where possible, from relevant entities responsible for implementation. The chart is included as an annex to the reports of the AHWG, which can be found here.
The inventory chart has a two-part structure: the first part contains unimplemented provisions, in order to focus on their follow-up; and the second part contains implemented provisions, both those that required one-time action and those to be implemented on an ongoing basis, in order to keep track of previous achievements and provide the means to compare with and learn from past experience.
The more than 200 outcomes are structured under the following clusters and headings:
- Cluster I: role and authority of the General Assembly
- General provisions related to the role and authority of the General Assembly
- Provisions related to the election of the President of the General Assembly and members of the General Committee
- Provisions related to the annual report of the Security Council
- Provisions related to the annual report of the Economic and Social Council
- Provisions related to the annual report of the International Court of Justice
- Provisions related to public relations activities
- Provisions related to the General Assembly cooperation with civil society and others
- Provisions related to the organization of work
- Provisions related to interactive/thematic debates
- Provisions related to the cooperation between the main organs
- Provisions related to the implementation and follow-up of resolutions
- Cluster II: working methods
- General provisions related to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly
- Provisions related to the organization of meetings: plenary, General Committee, Main Committees
- Provisions related to the general debate
- Provisions related to the conduct of business: time limits on speeches
- Provisions related to modern technologies
- Provisions related to documentation: resolutions
- Provisions related to documentation: consolidation of reports
- Provisions related to the preparation and issuance of reports
- Provisions related to the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization
- Provisions related to the agenda of the General Assembly
- Provisions related to the practices and working methods of the Main Committees of the General Assembly
- Provisions related to the General Committee
- Other matters
- Cluster III: selection and appointment of the Secretary-General and other executive heads
- General provisions related to the selection of the Secretary-General
- Provisions related to the selection process
- Provisions related to the appointment and duration of the term
- Miscellaneous/other
- Cluster IV: strengthening the institutional memory of the Office of the President of the General Assembly
- Provisions related to the competencies of the President of the General Assembly
- Provisions related to the financial, logistic and technical support for the President of the General Assembly
Examples of outcomes
- Early elections of the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of ECOSOC “about six months before the elected members assume their responsibilities”.
- Informal interactive dialogues with candidates for the position of President of the General Assembly, thus contributing to the transparency and inclusivity of the process;
- Limitation of campaign materials distributed in the General Assembly Hall or in the Committee meeting room to a single page of information regarding the candidates, with a view to preserving the decorum of the Assembly;
- Amendment of rule 92 of the rules of procedure and printing of names of candidates for elections in the General Assembly on the ballot papers with additional space for inscribing other names, where applicable;
- Oath of office and code of ethics for the President of the General Assembly;
- Public availability of information on the contributions to the Office and details of official travel as well as preparation of an end-of-term report thereon;
- Availability of the General Assembly’s rules of procedure in a consolidated version in all official languages, both in print and online;
- Availability of relevant precedents and past practice with respect to the Assembly’s rules and working practices in the public domain;
- Holding of regular meetings of the Presidents of the General Assembly with the Secretary-General and the Presidents of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as well as with the Chairs of subsidiary bodies, and briefings to Member States on the outcomes of these meetings;
- Regular briefings by Main Committee Chairs to the AHWG on their discussions on the improvement of working methods;
- Compilation of Informal, short reports on best practices and lessons learned from the President of the General Assembly to his/her successor at the end of his/her tenure;
- Exploration of means to enhance the coordination of the scheduling of high-level meetings with a view to optimizing the number and distribution of such events;
- Periodic briefings by the Secretary-General and the Presidents of the General Assembly to Member States on their recent activities, including official travels;
- Enhanced interaction, as and where appropriate, with civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in particular those from developing countries;
- Continued cooperation between the General Assembly and national and regional parliaments, particularly through the Inter-Parliamentary Union;
- Interaction between the General Assembly and international or regional forums and organizations dealing with global matters of concern to the international community;
- Convening of interactive inclusive thematic debates on current issues of critical importance;
- Availability of information on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly in the public domain;
- Encouragement of a number of measures, including formal presentation of candidatures for the position of Secretary-General in a manner that allows sufficient time for interaction with Member States;
- Mandate for the Presidents of the General Assembly and of the Security Council to start the process of soliciting candidates for the position of Secretary-General through a joint letter addressed to all Member States, containing a description of the entire process and inviting candidates to be presented in a timely manner;
- Joint circulation of a letter by the Presidents of the General Assembly and of the Security Council to all Member States on an ongoing basis of the names of individuals that have been submitted for consideration as candidates for the position of Secretary-General together with accompanying documents, including curricula vitae;
- Convening of informal dialogues or meetings with candidates for the position of Secretary-General, without any prejudice to any candidate who does not participate, thus contributing to the transparency and inclusivity of the process;
- Revised oath of office of the Secretary-General;
- Amendment of rule 1 of the rules of procedure to allow more time for the incoming President of the General Assembly and his/her Office to prepare for the general debate, effective from the opening of the 78th session.
