General Assembly: 86th plenary meeting, 79th session

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to start. As soon as you take your seats, we will be gone. The 86th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly is called to order.

The Assembly will consider agenda item 126. entitled, and I quote, Interaction Between the United Nations National Parliaments and the Interparliamentary Union, end of quote. In connection with this item, the Assembly has before it a report of the Secretary-General circulated in document A/ 79/837 and a draft resolution issued as document A/79/L104. Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I welcome this opportunity to reflect on the Secretary-General's latest report on the interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments, and the Interparliamentary Union. This report powerfully affirms the critical role that parliaments play in advancing the work of the United Nations across all 3 pillars: peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development. Parliaments are not merely national actors. They are indispensable partners in translating our global objectives into national legislation, budgetary decisions, and public accountability. As highlighted in the report, parliamentary engagement strengthens the multilateral system by helping restore trust, promoting inclusiveness, and anchoring our global efforts in democratic legitimacy. The Pact for the Future calls for a reinvigorated multilateralism. Action 55 of the Pact urges deeper United Nations engagement with national parliaments. This is not symbolic. It is essential if we are to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, respond to climate change, uphold human rights, and foster peace. As President of the General Assembly, I have witnessed firsthand how parliaments around the world are stepping up, aligning national laws with international commitments, supporting sustainable finance, and ensuring government accountability. Earlier this year, my office co-organized with the Inter-Parliamentary Union the 2025 Parliamentary Hearing here at the United Nations Headquarters. We welcomed over 300 participants, including speakers, members of parliament from more than 60 countries. The discussions were rich, forward-looking, and full of conviction. I was particularly heartened by the overwhelming parliamentary support for the United Nations and for multilateral cooperation, including on sustainable development, conflict prevention, and institutional reform. With only 5 years left to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, we must do more together. National parliaments are essential actors in this and other joint efforts. I count on Member States to ensure their continued engagement at all levels so that the promises we have made are honored and implemented. Thank you.

Thank you.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to introduce draft resolution A/79/L104.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania, I have the honor to introduce the draft resolution A/79/104 entitled Interactions Between the United Nations National Parliaments and Interparliamentary Union, under Agenda Item 126. We are especially proud to present this resolution at a time when Her Excellency Dr. Tullia Axson, Speaker of the National Assembly of the United Republic of Tanzania, serves as the President of Interparliamentary Union, IPU. This not only marks a moment of national pride but also signals Tanzania's firm commitment to enhancing the interface between national parliaments and the United Nations. This resolution reaffirms and strengthens the institutional partnership between the United Nations and IPU, and underscores the crucial role of national parliaments in translating global commitment into national realities. It aims to bring the United Nations closer to the people it serves by strengthening parliamentary engagement in multilateral processes. Mr. President, this year's resolution builds on previous mandates and incorporates several new and forward-looking elements. Which reflect current global priorities and feedback received during a broad and inclusive consultation process. Among the new elements introduced in the current draft, I wish to highlight the following: references to Action 55 of the Pact for the Future, which calls for deepening UN engagement with national parliaments in intergovernmental processes. Recognition of the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, to be held later this month, as a vital high-level opportunity for parliamentary engagement. Encouragement to institutionalize the UN IPU parliamentary hearing by including it in the General Assembly's official calendars of informal meetings. Promotion of citizens' parliamentary engagement in voluntary national review to reinforce national ownership and accountability in SDG implementation. Acknowledgement of Parliament's role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, ensuring its governance aligns with human rights and sustainable development. Recognition of the work of the IPU Standing Committee on UN Affairs, particularly its role in formalizing parliamentarians with UN reforms. Commendation of IPU's role in disarmament and nonproliferation, particularly in supporting ratification, implementation of UN arms control Mr. President, the draft resolution before us is a product of open, transparent, and inclusive informal consultations carried out in a spirit of collaboration and compromise. We are grateful for active and constructive engagement of all delegations throughout the process. The draft represents a carefully balanced outcome respecting the integrity of past mandates while advancing new and shared priorities. We extend our sincere appreciation to all delegations that have already co-sponsored the resolution. For those that have not yet done so, we respectfully invite your delegation to consider co-sponsorship. It's regrettable that a vote has been called on a resolution that has traditionally enjoyed adoption by consensus. We therefore request all member states to vote in favor of the draft. Let us continue to work together to ensure that the voice of the people through their elected representatives remains an integral part of the United Nations effort to advance peace, justice, development, and human rights for all. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

Mr. President, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, humankind is facing colossal challenges and more than ever needs a robust and renewed commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the Organization. In this context, the exercise of parliamentary diplomacy and the engagement of national parliaments and the interparliamentary Parliamentary Union with the UN are of great significance. Through their actions, parliamentarians make a positive contribution to the pursuit of collective solutions to the challenges facing humankind. This agenda item invites us to reflect on how much more parliamentarians can do to contribute to achieving the founding purposes and principles of this organization in their capacity as representatives of popular will. The interaction of parliamentarians with the United Nations is a valuable tool to democratize international relations. At the same time, it contributes to the shared yearning for a new, just, and democratic international order. Ensuring sovereign equality, environmental sustainability, the full achievement of the right to development, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, and other intergovernmental commitments emanating from this organization. Cuba supports initiatives aimed at strengthening a more productive working relationship between the UN National parliaments and the Interparliamentary Union. We commend in this regard the efforts of the United Republic of Tanzania in leading the negotiations on draft resolution L104, which we will be considering this morning. We particularly highlight the constructive approach taken by the Tanzanian delegation during the consultations and its capacity for dialogue with all member states. Mr. President, continuing to strengthen working relations with the Interparliamentary Union remains a constant priority for our government and our parliament. Just 2 months ago, Cuba was honored to receive the Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Union, Mr. Martin Chungong, on an official visit to our country. His stay in Havana was a valuable opportunity to continue expanding our historic ties with this organization. This was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Secretariat of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Interparliamentary Union. We're grateful for the message of solidarity and support to the people and government of Cuba conveyed by the Interparliamentary Union. This message is particularly meaningful in the current circumstances in which the United States is intensifying its blockade against Cuba, continues to unjustifiably include our country on the lists of— list of states allegedly sponsoring terrorism, and is attacking the medical cooperation that Cuba offers primarily to countries of the Global South. The current time calls for the genuine exercise of multilateralism and cooperation, values that we believe are promoted by the text under consideration, which is why my delegation once again has decided to support it and will vote in favor of this initiative. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Mr. President, the Russian Federation views the Interparliamentary Union as one of the oldest and most prestigious interparliamentary organizations. Bringing together 181 states. It is a balanced mechanism of cooperation between parliaments from countries all over the world. In this context, we support strengthening cooperation between the IPU and UN. We believe that the potential of the Union to find consensus on a broad range of issues of global development could be mobilized more fully. We welcome the firm resolve of the Union's leadership to more actively— active participation of national parliaments and parliamentarians in resolving global problems, including supporting the resolution of crises and combating international terrorism. President, we welcome the resolve of the Union leadership to cooperate constructively with the U.N., and we agree with Ms. Ekström's view that the The President of the IPU should reflect the interests of all geopolitical groups and act in the interests of promoting interparliamentary dialogue as well as a unifying agenda, which is in line with the IPU's longstanding role as an objective arbiter. We believe it's important to deepen and expand mutually respectful and equitable dialogue between parliamentarians with the goal of creating a system of international relations that is free from neocolonial practices and the domination. Of a certain group of states. We welcome the fact that a new group, that is BRICS+, has been established within the IPU, which will further boost efforts to coordinate joint approaches toward building a more just and multipolar world order. This, in turn, will allow for true security for all members of the international community, based on strict respect for the norms and principles of international law. In closing, I'd like to thank Tanzania for coordinating this very useful resolution on cooperation between the UN and the IPU. We're prepared to support this initiative fully. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of

I thank you, Mr.

President. We express our sincere gratitude to Tanzania for the leadership and excellent work in facilitating the negotiation process on the draft resolution interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments, and the IPU. I would like to thank also President of the Interparliamentary Union, Honorable Dr. Tulia Axén, for her tremendous work. Uzbekistan is proud to co-sponsor this important resolution, which underscores the important role of parliaments in advancing our common goals of peace, social and economic development. We believe that the IPU plays a crucial role in building bridges between the UN and national legislatures, enabling parliaments to contribute meaningfully to multilateral agendas, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Uzbekistan is a strong advocate for the active involvement of parliamentarians not only in UN processes but also in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We highly value our growing partnerships with the Interparliamentary Union. In April, Uzbekistan hosted 105th IPU Assembly with participation of 181 national parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary organizations. The outcome documents of this landmark event Tashkent Declaration once again reaffirmed commitment of the parliamentarians to UN objectives, particularly to the social development, in line with upcoming Second World Social Summit. At the initiative of Uzbekistan, in 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted historical resolution on enhancing the role of parliaments in achieving SDGs, which was co-sponsored by 80 countries. We propose to update this important resolution, taking into account the latest priorities. Our national experience reaffirms that parliaments are crucial actors in advancing not only the SDGs but also other global commitments. In Uzbekistan, parliamentary involvement has been essential in efforts related to social protection, poverty reduction, gender equality, civil society engagement, and anti-corruption initiatives. In conclusion, I would like once to thank the facilitator of the draft resolution and look forward to its successful adoption. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Uzbekistan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Portugal.

Mr. President, Excellencies, let me begin by expressing Portugal's appreciation for the Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania for its skillful facilitation of this biennial resolution on the interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments, and the Interparliamentary Union. Portugal is proud to co-sponsor this resolution once again. We welcome this timely adoption and the updated language that reflects key developments in multilateral cooperation, particularly the adoption of the Pact for the Future and the preparations for the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament later this month. Mr. President, Parliaments are the democratic pulse of our nations, and they embody the will of the people and play a crucial role in translating international commitments into national laws and policies. So strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and the Interparliamentary Union is therefore essential to reinforce multilateralism from the ground up. We particularly welcome the resolution's it focus on emerging issues such as the governance on artificial intelligence, where parliaments have a unique responsibility to ensure transparency, accountability, and human rights compliance. We also welcome the recognition of the IPU's efforts to engage parliaments more systematically in UN reform processes. Portugal is especially pleased with the reinforced language on gender equality, and youth participation. Full, equal, and meaningful representation of women in parliaments is a prerequisite for inclusive governance. Similarly, engaging youth in decision-making is key to building a more resilient and future-oriented multilateral order. Mr. President, Portugal remains firmly committed to a United Nations that is more inclusive, more accountable and closer to the people. We will continue to champion initiatives that bring Parliaments, and through them our citizens, closer to the work of this organization. And I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Portugal. I now give the floor to the Observer of the Interparliamentary Union.

Thank you.

Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, at the outset I want to thank the Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania for its leadership in steering today's debate around the new resolution. This resolution marks yet another milestone on our journey towards greater parliamentary engagement here at the United Nations. I am very proud that representatives of my country, led by Ambassador Suleiman, have delivered on this important task today in cooperation with the Secretariat and the members of the Interparliamentary Union. With the world experiencing much difficulty working together within a multilateral setting, parliamentarians have a great and special responsibility to bring people together in their own countries, building bridges between political divides. This resolution recognizes the unique role of parliaments in advancing the United Nations' goals to strengthen multilateralism and to advance peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development. The resolution comes in the wake of last year's Pact for the Future, a sweeping set of commitments, old and new, that will require strong parliamentary engagement to come to fruition. Action 55 of the Pact calls for deepening the relationship between parliaments and the United Nations, both with regard to intergovernmental processes and to the implementation of the United Nations outcomes. With this, the Pact gives us a strong mandate to persevere on the path towards a more inclusive, transparent, and effective multilateralism system through the engagement of parliaments and parliamentarians as representative of all the people. Like most resolutions of the General Assembly, as well as those of the IPU, this text is the result of a compromise from the further— which further progress can be made. Among the new provisions contained in this resolution, I want to acknowledge in particular the greater emphasis placed on the annual parliamentary hearing at the United Nations as a flagship event. A new paragraph acknowledges for the first time our UN partner in the organization of this event, namely the President of the General Assembly. Another important addition is the paragraph that welcomes the work of the IPU Standing Committee on the United Nations Affairs, which works to familiarize parliamentarians with the United Nations processes and reforms. Parliamentarians who are often focused on addressing their constituents' concerns have few opportunities to think about the United Nations as an institution and how this institution is absolutely essential to the welfare of their countries in building the foundations for peace and development for the whole world. The IPU Standing Committee on UN Affairs, also known as SCUNA, is unique in the world with a mandate to help parliamentarians make sense of the United Nations as an institution, including understanding the United Nations budget, the role of the UN peacekeeping operations, and the functions— functioning of the Security Council, among others. SCUNA debates general—

Thank you.

Generate some hard questions for the United Nations officials and ambassadors who participate on a regular basis. But in the end, they conclude with actionable recommendations for parliaments designed to help make the UN stronger and more fit for purpose. This updated resolution contains another achievement for parliaments in a strong new paragraph encouraging member states to engage parliaments consistently throughout the voluntary national reviews that track progress on the SDGs. Indeed, the IPU has been working since day one to engage parliaments in these critical reviews. Among other things, we conduct an annual survey of parliamentary engagement which shows how little parliaments are being consulted. when it comes to assessing national progress towards the SDGs. Better and more consistent engagement of parliaments properly capacitated to participate in these reviews will ensure better accountability by governments. The new language in the resolution puts the onus on the governments to call on parliaments whenever they embark on this important process. With just 5 years to go for the SDG SDGs, there is no time to be wasted. The IPU will do its part to get parliaments ready to make a solid contribution to these reviews. Finally, I would like to highlight a new— the new operative paragraph that acknowledges the important work of the IPU in supporting the ratification of the United Nations disarmament and non-proliferation treaties. I see this as an important step forward at a time when the threat of nuclear war has never been so near. Indeed, disarmament is key to making this world safer and more peaceful, the most important condition for human development. The IPU is committed to stepping up to the challenge and making an even greater effort towards engaging parliaments in disarmament debates nationally, regionally, and globally. Distinguished delegates, dear colleagues, working together, we can continue to build the IPU-UN strategic partnership and translate words into action for the people we represent. Virtually every meeting of the IPU involves engagement with the UN, featuring United Nations representatives or referring to key UN reports resolution. On the UN side, we look forward to a more consistent effort to ensure parliamentarians are invited here to engage in multi-stakeholder debates as experts and participants, and their inclusion in national delegations to major meetings that are held here. Weekly meetings online and in person at our 2 yearly assemblies and in parliamentary fora IPU organizes around major UN conferences. The IPU is helping parliamentarians to excel and to deliver on the aspirations of the people they represent. It is parliamentarians who hold their governments to account for the agreements they sign here at the United Nations. It is parliaments that pass laws to ratify and implement the those agreements. And of course, it is parliaments that scrutinize and pass national budgets which ensure the government is allocating the money to realize those commitments at the national level. Our 181 member parliaments are committed to helping you, Mr. President, and the entire United Nations institution to deliver on your work. We are working to realize more inclusive and effective parliaments that reflect each nation's population, with gender equality and increased representation of youth and minority groups. Next week in Geneva, I will be presiding over the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, which is a unique platform and forum for high-level engagement and dialogue among parliamentary leaders from around the world. We have some 145 speakers and deputy speakers working together to advance strong and effective multilateralism and strengthen the parliamentary dimension of global governance. I am grateful to you for acknowledging this 6th World Conference of Speakers today in this resolution. As the President of the IPU, I believe that the United Nations and the IPU must work together more closely to counter the most negative forces within society. While it held much promise, globalization has weakened the power of governments and put a strain on multilateral organizations like the United Nations and the IPU alike. New communication strategies— technologies connect us across great divides, but too often they also sow discord in societies when what I hope we all want is more tolerance and cooperation. At this critical juncture, we must retool to make our joint action for peace, democracy, and development more effective. I would like to conclude with the words of the former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Dag Hammarskjöld, who famously said, the United Nations was not created in order to bring us to heaven, but in order to save us from hell. Now more than ever, in these times of great change and great challenges, the IPU and its member parliaments can assure you here that we are committed to working better, to not only save us from hell, but to help build together the world we all want. I thank you for listening.

I thank the Observer of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative observer of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

Mr. President, Excellencies, as an intergovernmental organization with 35 member states dedicated to strengthening democracy, International IDEA underscores the vital role of parliaments as pillars of effective democracy support. We affirm the central importance of legislatures in advancing peace and security, supporting sustainable development, and protecting human rights. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Pact for the Future highlights the vital role of parliaments in ensuring the effective implementation of these global commitments. Since 2019, International IDEA has led the implementation of Interparis, the European Union's flagship initiative for parliamentary strengthening through peer learning. This initiative mobilizes the expertise of European Union national parliaments to support the development objectives of partner parliaments. Together, we focus on shared goals such as advancing parliamentary innovation through digital tools and developing self- assessment indicators for democratic parliaments, thereby empowering parliaments to reflect on and enhance their democratic roles. International IDEA also collaborates closely with the IPU in implementing the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement, also known as WIDE, Women's Leadership Initiative, which advances progress toward gender equality goals by leveraging collective action, partnerships, coordination, knowledge, and resources globally. The WIDE initiative promotes the full and effective participation and decision-making of diverse women, especially those who are often left behind, through social norms change, networking, and global advocacy. These models of parliamentary cooperation demonstrate how coordinated efforts can can amplify parliament— parliamentary strengthening initiatives worldwide, thus offering a valuable framework for addressing global policy challenges. International IDEA also supports parliaments through its regional and country offices around the world. When democratic transitions face setbacks, parliaments and elected parliamentarians are often among the first targets, and when under threat, must receive protection and assistance. We are grateful for the IPU's principal leadership in this regard. International IDEA has been and will continue to be an active participant in this collective effort. Excellencies, we are dedicated to strengthening our partnership with the IPU to advance shared priorities such as parliamentary development, inclusive political participation, electoral integrity, gender equality, and constitution building. We believe this cooperation is essential for reinforcing democratic governance within the framework of the 2030 Agenda. International IDEA highly values its lasting relationship with the IPU, and we look forward to continuing our joint advocacy and dialogue as we work together to strengthen transparent, effective, and accountable institutions as keys to sustainable development. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished observer of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item. The Assembly will now proceed to consider draft resolution A/79/L104. For your information, the draft resolution has closed for e-sponsorship. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. President. I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft resolution And in addition to the delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of A/79/L104: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zambia. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor A/79, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. I see Timor-Leste, Djibouti, Australia, Guatemala, Canada, Kiribati, Laos PDR, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Gabon, Liberia, Bangladesh. I thank you, Miss— Lesotho, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Gambia. That would be all. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote before the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Thank you.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

Thank you, Mr. President, and our appreciation also to the Permanent Representative of Tanzania for his and his delegation's hard work on this resolution. The United States has serious reservations about the proposed resolution and in particular the value of coordination with the Interparliamentary Union. In addition to the redundancy of convening representatives of government— governments at the United Nations and IPU, cooperation with this organization presents a challenging set of circumstances that the United States does not support. Exchanging ideals of democratic expression, free thinking, and representative government are admirable efforts. Coordinating with a body that promotes democracy while simultaneously advancing soft law measures that infringe on national sovereignty and freedom of speech is not. The IPU's unserious attempts to promote democracy, most especially by some of its most repressive members, begs the question why members of this body would seek any form of cooperation. The United States does not tolerate infringement upon its sovereignty or freedoms of expression, nor do we tolerate globalist attempts to promote autocratic conceptions of democracy, not by this body, not by the IPU. We do not support any contribution of the joint UN-IPU parliamentary hearing at the United Nations ongoing UN processes or UN reforms. We further urge you to question why you would support this effort as well. Furthermore, today's resolution exemplifies the flaws of many of the GA items we consider each year: a pro forma exercise that says much but accomplishes very little. Like others of its kind, this resolution leads the UN away from its core function of maintaining international peace and security by devoting outsized focus to sustainable development and gender ideology. We remain concerned by the reaffirmations of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2030 Agenda and the SDGs advance a program of soft global governance inconsistent with U.S. sovereignty and adverse to the interests of Americans. All countries should be similarly wary of such an affront to sovereignty. The United States no longer reaffirms the SDGs as a matter of course. This resolution repeatedly uses the term gender rather than recognizing the sexes. It is U.S. policy to recognize 2 sexes, male and female, and not to promote gender ideology. The United States supports the UN returning to its core principles and purposes under the UN Charter— first and foremost, the maintenance of international peace and security. Unfortunately, today's resolution undermines that goal. For these reasons, the United States will be voting no on the present resolution. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the vote. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/79/L104 entitled Interaction between the United Nations, National Parliaments and the Interparliamentary Union. A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favor of draft resolution A/79/L104, please signify. Those against? Abstentions?

The Assembly is now voting on Draft Resolution A/79/L104 entitled Interaction Between the United Nations, National Parliaments, and the Interparliamentary Union. Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the screen?

Yes.

The voting has been completed. Please lock the machine.

The result of the vote is as follows. In favor, 153. Against, 1. Abstentions, 0. Draft Resolution A/79/L104 is adopted. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

President, the Interparliamentary Union is a longstanding, widely represented, and most influential international parliamentary organization. It serves as a vital platform for dialogue, exchange, and cooperation among national legislatures. In recent years, the IPU has undertaken valuable work in promoting sustainable development, safeguarding the rights and interests of women and children, and strengthening legislative cooperation among countries. China supports and commends these efforts. As a consistent participant in both the UN and IPU activities, China supports stronger interaction and cooperation between them to jointly practice multilateralism and advance world peace and development. President, historically, resolutions on UN-IPU interaction have always been adopted by consensus. Among all member states. However, a certain country rejecting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the interaction between the UN and IPU as a policy stance went so far as to demand a vote on the said draft resolution. Such an approach runs counter to international consensus. It is utterly absurd, unjustifiable, and anything but constructive. China finds this deplorable. The overwhelming majority of votes reflects the popular will of the international community and prevailing trend of our times. It reaffirms the immutable truth: those on the side of justice will find ample support, and those straying from it will find little. We urge the country in question to recognize the tide of history, respect the choice of the vast majority of countries, fulfill its responsibility as a major country and take concrete actions to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the proper roles played by the UN and the IPU. I thank you, President.

I thank the distinguished representative of China and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, President. We once again thank the delegation of Tanzania for their efforts to coordinate this important resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Interparliamentary Unions. Thanks to their openness toward compromise and to take into account the interests of all interested parties today, we have adopted this balanced and useful document that can help to forge such cooperation between the UN and the IPU. At the same time, I'd like to separately comment on paragraph 7 of the Framework Agreement, which contains a reference to the Nsindzua Declaration of 2022. This declaration has long since lost its relevance. It does not contain any references to preparation of the 27th session of the Conference of Parties to the FCCC, which took place in November 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh. Since then, 2 sessions have taken part. A number of strategic decisions have been adopted with regard to combating the negative effects of climate change. Therefore, the Russian Federation recedes itself from paragraph 7 and hopes to find a more relevant documents on this document.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation, and then I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Hungary.

Mr. Chair, let me begin by congratulating Tanzania as co-facilitator of this resolution on their excellent work. With their continuous engagement, this Assembly could confirm once again the importance of the multi-stakeholder cooperation among the United Nations, national parliaments, and the Interparliamentary Union itself. Hungary values highly the Interparliamentary Union as a forum where national parliaments and their members can actively exercise their mandate to negotiate and strengthen international dialogue on behalf of and for their constituents. Such initiatives have become even more important in recent years to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development. For this reason, my delegation voted yes on the resolution. In the meantime, I also have to highlight Hungary's longstanding national position on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, or GCM, which has not been accepted by all member states. And Hungary does not participate in its implementation in any way. Since 2015, Hungary has consequently emphasized that instead of promoting or facilitating migration, the focus should be on providing assistance locally to third countries by creating conditions more conducive to stable growth and development. For that reason, Hungary wishes to distance itself from operative paragraph 16 of the resolution. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Hungary. We have heard the last speaker and explanations of vote after the vote. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 126? It is so decided. The Assembly will resume its consideration of Agenda Item 132 entitled the Responsibility to and the Prevention of Genocide, War Crimes, Ethnic Cleansing, and Crimes Against Humanity to hear the remaining speakers of the debate. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Djibouti.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. Mr. President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, my delegation reviewed with considerable concern and interest the Secretary-General's report on the responsibility to protect 20 years of commitment to principled and collective action. We found the report sober and while it maintains an air of guarded hope, one can easily sense that the implementation of the R2P depends more than ever before on the political will of member states which endorsed and committed to it at the 2005 World Summit. The Secretary-General warns starkly that atrocity crimes have increased, exposing a persistent gap between promises and meaningful action. The never again promise remained obstinately promissory, and as I speak today before you in this august Assembly, continues to be an aspiration that has yet to be honored and fulfilled. Despite this promise, genocide is unfortunately a grim reality of international life. It is impossible for my delegation, which is deeply committed to the cause of peace, to find any reasonable explanation of its persistence in the 21st century. Moreover, my delegation is deeply troubled by the continued erosion of compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, which underpin the commitment to the R2P. Mr. President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, in the highly tense geopolitical and security current landscape, today's conflicts and crises are particularly marked by major humanitarian crises crimes against humanity, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, genocide, mass starvation, deliberate targeting of civilians, rape, and gruesome human rights violations with large numbers of refugees and displaced. Violence against civilians is at its highest level since 2015. Civilians must be protected in Sudan, Ukraine, and most urgently in Gaza, where Israel has decreed Palestinians unfit to exist and to live on their own land and country, Palestine, by committing a full-scale genocide against the Palestinian people in Palestine. In addition to that, it's been recognized and stated as well that growing threats such as climate change, the weaponization of new technologies, misinformation and disinformation, increasing inequalities between and within countries, and the deterioration of human rights and the rule of law in many parts around the globe are deeply transforming the character and dynamics of atrocity crimes today. Mr. President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, nevertheless, nevertheless, over the last 2 decades, some conceptual policy-wise, and practical developments have been made in many fronts. And renewed commitment to the R2P have been secured, paving the way for multiple initiatives, including in particular regional consultations on atrocity crimes prevention and the UN Conference to elaborate and conclude a legally binding instrument on prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity as early as 2028. One of the most fundamental objectives of the state as a sovereign entity is the protection of its own population. We also have a far more profound understanding of the risk issues, drivers, and warning signs of these crimes and the strategies and tools that can prevent them. This means our collective failure is not one of knowledge— the warning signs are well understood— nor of capacity the tools exist. It is a failure of political will. My delegation therefore pledges to work with all member states, regional organizations, and civil society to transform the R2P from aspiration into practice so that genocide, war crimes, and increasing crimes against humanity become tragedies of the past, not predictions of our future. Djibouti has a signatory of the Political Declaration on Suspension of Veto Powers in Cases of Mass Atrocities, calls on all Member States to lend their most valuable support to this crucial initiative launched by France and Mexico in 2015. In closing, Mr. President, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Responsibility to Protect. Let it be remembered. Not only for its warnings, but more importantly for the decisive steps we must take together to honor the solemn pledge we made in 2005: Never again. We believe we are at the threshold of a renewed global commitment to put the R2P into practice and protect populations from the most serious and egregious international crimes. We cannot allow this anniversary to become a somber commemoration of failure. A clear message must be sent. The time to implement R2P is now, and it should not be wasted, unlike many golden opportunities in the past that have been squandered. We would like also to thank the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on R2P and her team for their excellent work. In collaboration with member states, they have truly been at the forefront of advancing R2P. Hopefully, their contributions to this process will stand as a key milestone for years to come.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Djibouti. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Mr. President, my delegation aligns itself with the statement made by Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter. My delegation would like to clarify its principal position on the agenda item, the responsibility to protect and prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleaning, and crimes against humanity as follows. Respect for sovereignty, self-determination, refraining from threat or use of force against territorial integrity, and non-intervention in the internal affairs of others are main principles of the UN Charter and cornerstones of international relations. From these principles, the responsibility for protection of its people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleaning, and crimes against humanity falls entirely under the sovereignty of each state. However, despite of the absence of the intergovernmental agreement on the concept of the R2P, some Western countries are abusing the R2P as a political tool to ignore and violate the sovereignty and right to self-determination of other countries, and to justify interference in internal affairs of sovereign states under the pretext of humanitarian intervention. Genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleaning, and crimes against humanity are not attributable to the inability of states to protect its people, but are a result of the serious violation of the sovereignty of the sovereign state. Ongoing armed conflict, terrorism, genocide, and mass destruction in the Middle East are a result of the illegal interference by the Western countries. In this opportunity, I strongly denounce the attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran by Israel and the United States, which seriously violate the UN Charter and the other international law based on the basic principle of the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. The present situation of the Middle East, which is wholly shaking the basic of the international peace and security, is an inevitable product brought by the reckless atrocity of Israel, which promotes its unilateral interests through ceaseless war books and territorial expansion, and the United States and Western countries that have tolerated and encouraged it. Reality clearly shows that R2P is a postmodern political tool applied selectively selectivity against developing countries and the sophism that justifies intervention in internal affairs while destroying the purpose and principle of the UN Charter and the norms of international law. The R2P must not be applied to interfere in internal affairs of the state under any circumstances. As a conclusion, my delegation reaffirms the principle for respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-intervention in internal affairs should be strictly observed and the issue of the R2P should be dealt with in keeping with common demands and interests of all member states. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and I now give the floor To the distinguished representative of Kenya.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the Responsibility to Protect was adopted as a moral and political commitment to never again stand by in the face of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, all crimes against humanity at the World Summit. 20 years later, the 3 fundamental pillars on which the responsibility to protect rests have been progressively weakened by the new and evolving global realities that threaten to destabilize the existing structures. As underscored in the Secretary-General's New Agenda for Peace and the Pact for the Future, the landscape of atrocity crime is evolving and converging in dangerous ways. We are confronted by climate disruption, digital disinformation, inequality, and erosion of civic space, among other issues of concern that can be attributed not to lack of knowledge but to our weakened political will and coordinated action, sometimes brought on by the gap between early warning and early response testing our credibility. Across the continent, African regional organizations such as IGAD, ECOWAS, and the ESC have taken bold steps that have prevented escalations where the global tensions did not reach, making use of the African Union's early warning mechanisms as well as community-led peacebuilding initiatives. Mr. President, Kenya reiterates that the responsibility to protect is obligatory. and should always be invoked whether convenient or not. It is our shared duty as sovereign states and as human beings. It is therefore imperative that the gap between promise and protection is sealed. To do so, Kenya proposes the following actions. One, partner with and empower regional and sub-regional bodies such as the African Union, IGAD, ECOWAS, and EAC with the tools, resources, and political support to serve as first responders, as well as linking local early warning to AU and UN frameworks. This will build resilient national and regional architectures for prevention. 2, linking and integrating early warning mechanisms across multilateral and regional platforms into national prevention strategies anchored in inclusive governance and accountable institutions. 3, resourcing and empowering the UN system, especially the Special Advisers on Responsibility to Protect and Genocide Prevention, with the capacity and political backing to sound the alarm and be heard. 4, strengthening the role of local actors such as civil society, religious leaders, survivors, women, and youth as co-creators of durable peace. 5, enhancing the international community's obligation to assist by investing in mediation, resilience, and development cooperation that protects dignity and forestalls disaster. Mr. President, as emphasized in the New Agenda for Peace and the Pact of the Future, the responsibility to protect must be uncompromising, comprehensive, and proactive to address the convergence of atrocities we experience today. It is not a discretionary principle, and must not be selective, rhetorical, or optional. As a moral litmus test of our shared humanity, it must be responsible and real. Kenya reaffirms its commitment to uphold the Responsibility to Protect. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kenya, and I now give the floor to the distinguished

Thank you, Mr.

President. Albania welcomes the resume of this debate on the Responsibility to Protect, which remains a cornerstone of our collective commitment to preventing atrocities and safeguarding human dignity. The 2025 Report of the United Nations Secretary-General on R2P underscores the urgent need for tangible results in protecting populations and implementing R2P principles more effectively and consistently across the globe. We commend the tireless efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide, and on the responsibility to protect. Their work has advanced our understanding of the risk factors, causes, and dynamics driving atrocity crimes, while enhancing our collective ability to respond to early warning signs. Progress in establishing investigative mechanisms, international courts, tribunals, and national judicial systems under universal jurisdiction reflects the international community's growing resolve to hold all perpetrators accountable. Yet, despite these efforts, global peace, security, and development face unprecedented challenges. Ongoing violations of international law, breaches of the UN Charter, and disregard of human rights and fundamental freedoms do persist. Emerging threats, including the misuse of digital technologies, spread of hate speech and disinformation, create environments conducive to atrocity crimes. These challenges demand renewed urgency in our collective action. Mr. President, it is our shared responsibility to uphold fundamental norms and values and address across human rights violations. Failure to protect populations undermines the credibility of the multilateral system and erodes trust in its capacity to safeguard humanity. To address the root causes of conflict and violence, states must prioritize comprehensive strategies that integrate governmental and societal efforts. As primary duty bearers, states must protect human rights globally while fostering inclusive policies to prevent such atrocities. Time is indeed critical. Ongoing human rights violations risk even more escalating into mass killings, refugee crises, and widespread suffering. Allowing impunity for atrocities threatens the rule of law and weakens institutions vital for human rights protection, increasing the likelihood of future atrocities. The Security Council bears primary responsibility for addressing mass atrocities, including through timely referrals to the ICC and robust measures to ensure accountability. While progress has been made indeed, greater action is needed to close the accountability gap. A holistic approach involving civil society, human rights defenders, humanitarian workers, religious leaders, and media is essential for building early warning and response systems. These stakeholders play a critical role in raising public awareness about human rights violations and potential atrocity crimes. Cooperation among governments, international organizations, and civil society is vital for developing responsive institutions and upholding the rule of law. Albania emphasizes the importance of including affected populations, particularly women and girls, in the design, implementation, and monitoring of civilian protection and atrocity prevention strategies. Their meaningful participation in ceasefire negotiations, peace agreements, and political transition is crucial for sustainable peace and justice. Albania remains deeply concerned about the glorification of war crimes, genocide, and historical distortion by some governments and actors. Such actions deepen division, hinder reconciliation, and exacerbate the suffering of civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, opposition voices, and victims of sexual and gender-based violence. We call for robust victim protection programs and increased support for affected communities to promote healing and dignity. Special attention must also be given to women, ensuring their voice shapes decision-making processes as we indeed— In conclusion, Albania calls for a strengthened global cooperation to prevent atrocities and upholding responsibility to protect principles, enhanced support for victims and affected communities with a focus on women and girls, increased accountability through the Security Council, ICC, and national judicial systems, and greater inclusion of civil society and affected populations in peacebuilding and prevention efforts. Together, we can translate our commitment into concrete action and a more just, inclusive, and peaceful world. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item for this meeting. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 132? It is so decided. Before proceeding to the next item, members are informed that the consideration on agenda item 122 entitled Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council has been postponed to a later date. to be announced. That was Agenda Item 122. The Assembly will resume now its consideration of Agenda Item 13 entitled Integrated and Coordinated Implementation of and Follow-up to the Outcomes of the Major United Nations Conferences and Summits in the Economic, Social, and related fields to take action on a draft decision issued as document A/79/L103 and the draft resolution issued as A/79/L108. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to introduce draft resolution A/79/L108.

Mr. President, distinguished excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, I'm deeply honored to deliver this statement on behalf of the landlocked developing countries on the occasion of the adoption of the General Assembly resolution for the creation of the International Day of Awareness of the Special Development Needs and Challenges of Landlocked Developing Countries. Since 1945, We the People, as it's declared in the United Nations Charter, gather in this greater whole united by a common aspiration: a world of shared prosperity, equal dignity, long-lasting peace, and sustainable development for all our nations. Yet, for a significant group among us, our 32 landlocked developing countries with a population of 606 million, this aspiration remains hindered by the fundamental geographic barrier, the absence of direct territorial access to the sea. Our landlocked condition imposes upon us heavy burdens to our development. For example, doubling, doubling the cost of every import and export, isolating us from major global trade routes, stifling our economic diversification, decreasing the possibilities to enjoy the common benefits of the oceans, increasing our vulnerability to and dependence by the effects of climate change, digital isolation, and external shocks. Challenges that clearly explain why the global merchandise exports of LLDCs remains marginal, only 1.1% of the global total, total global share. Despite our remarkable resilience and ongoing efforts, these structural constraints consistently place LLDC at a disadvantage. Therefore, the proposed International Day resolution before you will serve as a tool for action, giving us a global spotlight for visibility and empathy, and to build partnership for targeted solutions. Together with the Awasa Programme of Action 2024-2034 and the Awasa Political Declaration, this resolution will serve as a tool for driving progress through partnership. Our resolution is not merely about recognizing hardship. It's about unlocking the potential to transform us from landlocked countries to land-linked states. When LLDC thrive, entire regions benefit. A stable and prosperous LLDC enhance global security and peace, contribute to a fair, fair global trading system, and empower the collective trusteeship of our intertwined ecosystems that are born the mountains and reach the bottom of the seas. Their success is integral to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for all. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. We shall now proceed to consider draft Decision A/79/L103 and draft resolution A/79/L108. For your information, the draft decision and the draft resolution have closed for e-sponsorship. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you. Mr. President, allow me to address the additional co-sponsors for both L103 and L108. Bear with me, let us just confirm the additional sponsors. Bear with us.

Thank you.

We are just retrieving information from the system.

Okay.

First, on L103, I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft decision, in addition to the delegation listed on the L document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of L103. L103, Switzerland. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor Bear with me, I'm sorry. Yes, Switzerland is the additional co-sponsor for L103. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor A/79/L103, please signify by pressing the microphone button. I see none. Next, on L108, on landlocked development— developing countries.

Yes.

In addition to the delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of A/79/L108: Austria, Hungary, Indonesia, United Republic of Tanzania, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor L108, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. I see Liberia, Morocco, India, Angola, China. That concludes the— and Kiribati. That concludes the additional co-sponsorship. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank you. I thank the representative of the Secretariat. We shall now proceed to take decision on draft decision A/79103 and draft resolution A/79108. Delegations wishing to make a statement in explanation of vote before the vote on any proposal under this item are invited to do so now in We see none. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft decision A/79/L103 entitled Venue and Dates of the 16th Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. I now call the roll. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/79/L103? It is so decided. May I take it that the Assembly decides also to adopt draft resolution A/79/L108?

Yes.

It is so decided. Before giving the floor to— for explanations of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Thank you.

I give the floor now to the distinguished delegate of the United States.

Thank you, Mr. President, and thanks also to the delegations of Bolivia and Turkmenistan for their efforts in Resolution A/79/L108 to draw attention to the complex challenges facing the landlocked developed— developing countries. We appreciate also Turkmenistan's hosting of the upcoming LLDC3 conference and look forward to sending our delegation to Awaza. However, this resolution contains positions that the United States cannot support, and so we must dissociate from this resolution in its entirety. As we have expressed previously, the United States will no longer reaffirm the 2030 Agenda as a matter of course. This resolution also contributes to the proliferation of theme days, many of which have a similar purpose. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Argentina congratulates the Plurinational State of Bolivia on the adoption of this important resolution and to the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries for undertaking this initiative. Further, on the resolution adopted, we'd like to nonetheless recall that we believe that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sustainable Development comprises legally non-binding aspirations which each state in the exercises of its sovereignty has the right to interpret and pursue freely. Consequently, we dissociate ourselves from PP1 of that document. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Argentina, and we have now heard the last speaker in explanations of vote. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 13. The Assembly will now resume its consideration of Agenda Item 14, entitled Culture of Peace, to take action on a draft resolution issued as Document I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh to introduce draft resolution A/79/L111.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President, Excellencies, and distinguished delegates, I have the honor to introduce draft resolution entitled Follow-up to the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace contained in Document A/79/L111 for the consideration of the Assembly today. Mr. President, we live in a world of diversities and differences. Nurturing the values of culture of peace in our everyday life is more important than ever in the context of growing global challenges and deepening mistrust. If we are to do better, we must cultivate peace and empathy in our hearts and reconcile our differences with compassion and mutual respect. Mr. President, for the sake of brevity, this year we have brought only some technical updates to the draft resolution. We are mindful so that the substance and structure of the resolution remain unchanged. We sincerely thank all delegations for their active participation and constructive approach in the informal consultations. Let me highlight some major updates in this year's text. First, in Preamble, paragraph 27, the draft resolution welcomes the PGA's High-Level Forum on Culture of Peace held on August 2nd, 2024, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Declaration of the Programme of Action with a focus to cultivate, nurture the culture of peace for the present and the future generations. In operative paragraph 19, member states, relevant UN entities, and civil society organizations have been encouraged to follow up on the discussions in the forum. Second, The draft resolution includes reference to the Compromiso do Sevilha adopted during the recently held 4th International Conference on Financing for Development. In the same vein, it includes the reference to the 10th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum held in November 2024. And finally, the draft resolution reiterates the request to the President of the 79th Session of the General Assembly to consider convening a high-level forum devoted to implementation of the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace during its 79th Session. We look forward to working with PGA's Office to make the event a success and encourage all delegations to offer suggestions for a relevant theme of the event. Mr. President, since 1999, Bangladesh has the honour of facilitating this flagship resolution under the GA Plenary Agenda Item, Culture of Peace. You would agree that promoting culture of peace has proven to be an effective means of complementing the principles and obligations enshrined in the Charter for maintenance of international peace and security. This august Assembly has consistently adopted the landmark resolution by consensus over the past 25 years. We expect the same unified endorsement from the Assembly today also. We express our sincere gratitude to the delegations who have already co-sponsored the draft resolution, and we look forward to co-sponsoring the draft from the floor ahead of its adoption. We understand that a vote on the resolution is being called. However, we would call upon all delegation members to vote in favor of the resolution in order to continue promoting culture of peace in the interest of global peace and security. In conclusion, Mr. President, I wish to extend our sincere appreciation to you and to your office for the continued support in advancing the follow-up to the Declaration and the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/79/L111. For your information, the draft resolution has closed for e-sponsorship. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. President. Since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to the delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of A/79/L111: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Bolivian the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor L.111, please signify by pressing the microphone button. I see Zambia, Cameroon, Gambia, Kiribati, Paraguay. Angola.

Sudan.

Côte d'Ivoire.

Kingdom of the Netherlands. And Togo. That concludes the additional co-sponsorship. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote before the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

Thank you, Mr. President. The United States also thanks Bangladesh for its leadership and efforts in facilitating the process on this resolution. The United States strongly supports prevention of conflict and peacebuilding efforts. However, this resolution contains positions that the United States cannot support. First, as we have expressed previously, the United States will no longer reaffirm the 2030 Agenda as a matter of course. Second, the resolution uses the term gender rather than recognizing the sexes. It is U.S. policy to recognize 2 sexes, male and female, and not to promote gender ideology. Third, the resolution recalls the Paris Agreement, with respect to which the United States has notified its withdrawal consistent with Executive Order 14162 on putting America first in international environmental agreements. The resolution also recalls the Sevilla Commitment, with respect to which the United States is not a party. Furthermore, this resolution also exemplifies the problematic trend of excessively lengthy resolutions. For these reasons, therefore, the United States will vote no on Resolution A/79/L.111. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the vote. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft Resolution A/79/L111 entitled Follow-up to the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favour of draft resolution A/79/L111, Please signify those against. Abstentions.

The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/79/L111 entitled Follow-up to the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. Will all delegations confirm that the votes are accurately reflected on the screen? The voting has been completed. Please lock the machine.

The result of the vote is as follows: in favor, 144; 49 against 2, abstentions 1. Draft Resolution A/79/L111 is adopted. Before giving the floor—

No speakers.

Okay.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 14. The Assembly will resume its consideration of Agenda Item 18 entitled Sustainable Development to take action on a draft resolution issued as Document A/79/L94. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tajikistan to introduce draft resolution A/79/L94.

Mr. President, it's an honor to introduce on behalf of the Central Asian countries Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and my own country, Tajikistan, the draft resolution A/79/L94 entitled The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Creating New Opportunities for Sustainable Development in Central Asia. At the outset, let me express our sincere gratitude to all Member States for their active participation in the informal consultation on this draft resolution. We deeply appreciate the constructive engagement, valuable inputs, and the spirit of flexibility shown throughout the negotiation process. Dear colleagues, artificial intelligence is transforming our societies and economies. It offers powerful tools to accelerate progress across all dimensions of Sustainable Development Goals. From healthcare, education, to agriculture, disaster response, and public service delivery, AI is reshaping how we respond to today's challenges. In this global context, Central Asia is stepping into a new era of digital transformation. The region is rich in renewable energy, natural resources, and young tech-savvy talent. These strengths form a solid foundation for AI-driven innovation and inclusive growth. Governments across the region have taken important steps to harness AI. This includes development of national strategies, in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, as well as innovation platforms such as the Astana Hub, the high-tech park of Kyrgyzstan, the IT Park of Uzbekistan, the— and the Area AI Technopark in Tajikistan. In this context, to showcase Central Asian countries' progress on AI, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, last year in September, in his statement before UN General Assembly, proposed the idea of adopting a special resolution on the role of artificial intelligence in sustainable development of Central Asia. Mr. President, the draft resolution before us today encourages enhanced international cooperation on AI capacity building. It calls for support to education and training programs, access to open AI models and compute, and the greater inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises in the digital economy. It recognizes efforts in Central Asia to develop regional self-regulatory approaches for safe, trustworthy, and inclusive AI systems, striking balance between innovation and regulation. The resolution further acknowledges the initiative to establish a regional AI center in Dushanbe, aimed at accelerating implementation of major AI initiatives across Central Asia, including promoting joint AI education programs and supporting startups across regional technology parks. Launching collaborative research among universities, scientists, and AI laboratories; establishing a shared network of data centers to expand access to AI computing infrastructure across the region; harmonizing national AI monitoring frameworks to adopt common principles for responsible, coordinated, self-regulatory governance, advancing global AI initiatives in collaboration with international partners and organizations. Distinguished colleagues, Tajikistan is committed to this vision. We are developing a green AI compute hub powered by hydro and solar energy. This effort is supported by international partners, leading technology companies such as NVIDIA, and development banks including World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Our Area AI Technopark will bring, will bring together research, education, infrastructure, and policy in a unified ecosystem. It is designed to serve as a regional center for AI innovation and governance. fully aligned with the principles outlined in today's resolution. Mr. President, the draft resolution before us today highlights the progress made by Central Asia countries in embracing AI as a driver of development. It reflects our shared vision for digitally inclusive, innovation-led, and sustainable future. In this regard, I call on General Assembly to adopt the draft resolution A/79 by consensus. I also invite all those members who haven't co-sponsored the resolution to do it now. I thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Tajikistan. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution For your information, the draft resolution has closed for e-sponsorship. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. President. Since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to the delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of L94: Armenia, Germany. Austria.

Azerbaijan.

Bahrain.

Bangladesh. Belarus.

Plurinational State of Bolivia.

Brazil. Burkina Faso. Burundi. Cape Verde. Cambodia. Chile.

China.

Cuba.

Cyprus. Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Dominican Republic.

Morocco, Egypt, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Hungary, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Uganda, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor L.94, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. I see Mali, Senegal, Gambia, India, United Republic of Tanzania, Algeria, Kiribati. That concludes the additional co-sponsorship. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/79/L94 entitled the role of artificial intelligence in Creating New Opportunities for Sustainable Development in Central Asia. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/79/L94? It is so decided.

Thank you.

Before giving the floor for explanations of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

Thank you, Mr. President. and adverse to the rights and interests of Americans. We regret the endorsement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development included in this resolution. The United States rejects and denounces the 2030 Agenda and will no longer reaffirm the SDGs as a matter of course. As such, the United States dissociates from Preambular Paragraph 2. Additionally, although we strongly support the general idea of capacity building in the field of artificial intelligence, we believe a Dushanbe Artificial Intelligence Center would be duplicative to other development centers which already exist in the region. Therefore, we do not support any such center and will not support any associated costs related to it. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Mr. President, Argentina congratulates Tajikistan and all of the countries in Central Asia on the adoption of this resolution. However, we wish to recall that we dissociate from the Pact for the the future, and we believe that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development comprises legally non-binding aspirations which each state, in the exercise of its sovereignty, has the right to interpret and pursue freely. Consequently, we would like to dissociate from preambular paragraphs 2 and 3 of this resolution. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Argentina. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of— explanations of vote after the vote. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 18. The Assembly will resume its consideration of Sub-item B of Agenda Item 26 Entitled Social Development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, aging, persons with disabilities, and the family, to take action on a draft decision as issued as document A/79/L105. We shall now proceed to consider draft decision A/79/L105. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote before the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of

Thank you, Mr.

Vice President. Canada firmly believes that meaningful inclusion of a broad range of stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector in UN processes enhances the quality and legitimacy of outcomes. Restricting participation of individual organizations should be limited to exceptional cases and by decision of the entire membership. The initial selection of organizations by the President of the General Assembly is based on an established procedure and has been done for many UN processes. This process deserves our trust and support. Canada has the honor to present an oral amendment to facilitate the participation of non-governmental organizations that have applied to participate in the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth. Canada's amendment is to reinstate 10 civil society organizations that were removed from the list of stakeholders originally presented by the General— the President of the General Assembly, making sure that these organizations would receive accreditation to attend the high-level meeting on 25th of September. The amendment seeks to add the following organizations to the Annex to Draft Decision A/79L 105. 1, Alianza para las Naciones Unidas y los Derechos Humanos en Ecuador, ANUEC. Disaster Resilience Advisors is number 2. 3, Friends of Charity Organization. 4, Idara e Talem o Agahahi. 5, NASA Agape Foundation. 6, Pak Special Persons Welfare Society. 7, Salik Development Foundation. 8, Society for Credibility Awareness, Reforms, and Fairness, SCARF. 9, Youth Parli of Pakistan, YPP. 10, YPPE—

YPP.

YPP. We invite all member states to support inclusive participation at high level of civil society organization at high-level meetings and conferences, and to support the amendments that we just presented to re-establish the original list proposed by the President of the General Assembly. We thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada and now give the floor to the distinguished The High Representative of the Russian Federation.

Mr. President, the Russian Federation welcomes the contribution of constructive members of civil society in thematic discussions that take place at the UN. At the same time, we'd like to recall that their presence at such events and their ability to take the floor during these events are not inalienable rights of NGOs. Those without consultative status with ECOSOC must in any case meet a number of criteria, including adherence to the goals and principles of the UN Charter, transparent financing, absence of politically motivated actions against states that are members of the United Nations and others. However, the procedure of allowing NGOs access to UN events on a one-time basis, under which delegations have to juggle several lists of NGOs simultaneously composed of dozens of organizations without any additional information, Prevents states from carrying out a comprehensive analysis of applications, as is done by the experts of the Committee on NGOs, with the goal of establishing long-term consultative relations with civil society organizations. In this regard, at the UN, we've developed the principle of non-objection basis for allowing NGOs NGOs to be present at UN events. This gave states an effective tool to deny participation in meetings and conferences to certain civil society organizations for which there are serious grounds to believe that they do not meet the aforementioned criteria. The amendment presented today by Australia, the UK, Canada, and Switzerland to a General Assembly decision on 4 different events undermines the very principle of the non-objection as well as trust between states. Therefore, we do not support all of these amendments which aim to politicize discussions within the General Assembly's high-level meetings. the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth. We call on all those present to do likewise. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. This explanation refers to Thank you. I'd like to move on to the agenda item 26B, 27C, and 71C. My delegation would like to thank the delegations of Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Switzerland for the amendments presented today concerning the lists of civil society organizations and other actors wishing to participate in high-level General Assembly meetings on various topics, and we would like to provide further detail on our decision to vote in favor of each of these amendments. Mexico's vote in favor of the amendments is fundamentally underpinned by 3 premises. First relates to the potential benefits that the participation of non-governmental organizations represents for the UN system. Secondly, the imperative to uphold and apply the principle of transparency in decision-making processes for the consideration of this assembly, since, as is common in these practices, no explanation at all has been provided regarding the objections raised. Third, the confidence that my country places. In the Office of the President of the General Assembly to select relevant organizations for participation in important processes of this Assembly. In addition, Mexico believes that the principle of non-objection must be accompanied by transparent explanations for any objections. In light of this, my delegation will vote in favor of reincorporating these NGOs into all the original lists that were submitted to the consideration of this Assembly today for adoption. Mr. President, in order to ensure that non-governmental organizations participating in each of these high-level meetings that have relevant— have relevant experience to contribute, we call on your office to ensure that the selection process for the list of organizations strictly adheres to the principles outlined in each of the modalities resolutions and that the list of selected organizations is rigorously reviewed prior to its consideration by member states. Mexico will, as it has always done in various fora, advocate for the inclusion of stakeholders who, in accordance with the principles of each relevant modalities resolution, express a desire to participate. Further, we call on the rest of the membership to support these efforts in order to strengthen discussions, generate synergies, and ensure that the outcomes of each high-level meeting and conference benefit from diverse perspectives and that deliberations are enriched by such diversity. Mexico is convinced that even where we have dissent, we may find common ground. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the vote. The representative of Canada has submitted an oral amendment to draft decision A/79/2011. Before we proceed to take a decision on draft decision A/79/L105, in accordance with Rule 90 of the Rules of Procedure, the Assembly shall first consider the oral amendment submitted by the representative of Canada. A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the vote.

Aye.

The voting process. Those in favor of the oral amendment proposed by the representative of Canada, please signify. Those against and abstentions.

The Assembly is now voting on the oral amendment proposed by the representative of Canada. Will all delegations confirm that the votes are accurately reflected on the screen? The voting has been completed. Please lock the machine.

Thank you.

The result of the vote is as follows: in favor, 68; against, 8; abstentions, 52. The oral amendment proposed by the representative of Canada is adopted. Since the oral amendment proposed by the representative If the representative of Canada is adopted, we shall proceed to take a decision on draft decision A/79/L105 as orally amended. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft decision A/79/L105 as orally amended? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item B of agenda item 26. The Assembly will resume its consideration of Agenda Item 27, entitled Advancement of Women, to take action on draft— a draft decision issued as Document A/79/L106 and a draft amendment contained in Document A/79/L112. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom to introduce draft amendment A/79/L112.

Thank you, Chair. The UK views the high-level meeting to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women as a critical milestone in our collective efforts to advance gender equality and the rights of women and girls. Civil society has long been the lifeblood of this movement. Their safe, meaningful participation is essential, especially at a time when access to multilateral spaces is increasingly restricted and those who hold governments to account face mounting reprisals and hostility. We were glad to see that language on civil society participation was included in the modalities resolution 79/288. However, we remain concerned that the non-objection procedure is increasingly being used as a tool to exclude NGOs on vague or politicized grounds. While we fully support safeguarding the integrity of the UN system, this cannot come at the expense of excluding legitimate voices, especially when such decisions are shielded from scrutiny. For these reasons, and to ensure that the high-level meeting hears from the full range of actors, the UK wishes to introduce an amendment to reinstate the full list of stakeholders to the annex of the draft decision as circulated by the President of the General Assembly on 2nd July. This list includes 100 organizations from across all regional groups, reflecting the global efforts to gender equality and women's rights. The agreed modalities resolution clearly states that member states may request the reasons for objections and that the final decision rests with the General Assembly. We encourage all delegations to use this mechanism to promote transparency and accountability. We are open to refining the process as we learn, including improving timelines for receiving objections, but we cannot accept a system that allows the arbitrary exclusion of legitimate voices. At a time when the UN is striving to build trust and deliver impact, it is more important than ever to ensure the meaningful participation of civil society. This not only reaffirms our shared commitment to inclusive multilateralism, but indeed the principles of the Beijing Declaration itself. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative. We shall now proceed to consider draft decision A/79/L106 and draft amendment A/79/L112. For your information, draft amendment A/79/L112 has closed for e-sponsorship. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. President. Since the submission of the draft amendment, and in addition to the delegation listed on the AO document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of AO 112: Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor L112, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. I see Kyrgyzstan. Republic of Moldova, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Canada, Bulgaria. That concludes the additional co-sponsors. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank—

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. Delegations wishing to make a statement in explanation of vote before the vote on any proposal under this item are invited to do so now in one intervention. After action on both of them, there will be an opportunity for explanations of vote after the vote on any or all of them. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote before the vote, may I remind delegations that Explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'm taking the floor to reflect in the records of our meeting that we do not support this amendment for fundamental reasons of principle, we believe that approval of NGOs should take place under the non-obstruction procedure. I also would like to note 2 further points. First of all, as far as we understand it, the office of the PGA does not carry out any screening of NGOs, and the list is simply drawn up based on all what are these students that have applied to be on the list. Therefore, we don't have a filter in place. Secondly, I'd like to note that now we've seen the outcome of the vote on the previous amendment, so we see that a small group of states insists on having certain organizations take part, and that once again proves that the procedure is highly unfair. So we call on all in the future to return to the non-registered procedure. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. We have heard the last speaker and explanation of vote before the vote. Before we proceed to take a decision on draft Proposition A/79/L106. In accordance with Rule 90 of the Rules of Procedure, the Assembly shall first consider draft amendment A/79/L112. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft amendment A/79/L112.

Ayes.

A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favor of, of draft amendment L112, please signify. Those against and abstentions.

The Assembly is now voting on draft amendment L112. Will all delegations confirm that the votes are accurately reflected on the screen? The welding has been completed. Please lock the machine.

The result of the vote is as follows: in favor, 72; against, 4; abstentions, 54. Draft Amendment A/79/L112 is adopted.

Thank you.

Since draft amendment L.112 was adopted, we shall proceed to take action on draft decision A/79/L.106 as amended. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft decision L106 entitled Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Academic Institutions, and the Private Sector that have applied to participate in the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the 13th anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women as amended. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft decision A/79/L106 as amended? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 27. The Assembly will resume its consideration of Sub-item C of Agenda Item 71 entitled Human Rights Situations and Reports of Special Rapporteurs and Representatives to Take Action on a draft decision issued as document A/79/L107 and the draft amendment contained in document A/79/L113. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia to introduce draft amendment A/79/L113.

Thank you, Chair. Australia would like to thank the Permanent Representatives of Finland and Malaysia and their teams for their tireless efforts on this modalities process. Australia welcomes efforts to focus global attention on the situation in Myanmar and related humanitarian crises in Bangladesh. We look forward to this upcoming high-level conference on Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar. Australia is fully supportive of OP9 of the modalities resolution, which includes provisions enabling meaningful civil society participation at this important high-level conference and a transparent process for accreditation. This transparency is essential to to ensuring that the conference will include voices from an array of stakeholders, and we are grateful that the language has given the decision-making power back to the Assembly rather than any single member state. We believe that meaningful inclusion of a broad range of stakeholders in UN processes, including at this high-level conference, enhances the quality and legitimacy of UN outcomes. The selection of organizations by the Office of the President of the General Assembly is based on procedure and deserves our trust and support. Restricting participation of individual organizations should be limited to exceptional cases and by decision of the full General Assembly membership. For these reasons, Australia has tabled this amendment today, which seeks to restore the original list of participating civil society organizations as determined by the Office of the President of the General Assembly and uphold the principle of inclusive and multi-stakeholder engagement. We invite the support of all member states to facilitate wide-ranging participation at the upcoming high-level conference on Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia. We shall now proceed to consider draft decision A/79L/2017. For your information, draft amendment L113 has closed for e-sponsorship. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. President. Since the submission of the draft amendment, and in addition to the delegation listed on the AEO document, If any other countries wish to co-sponsor L113, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. I see Kiribati, Slovenia, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Denmark, Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria. Canada. That concludes our additional co-sponsorship. And Bulgaria has been read. That concludes our additional co-sponsorship. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. Delegations, Sorry. Delegations wishing to make a statement in explanation of vote before the vote on any proposal under this item are invited to do so now in one intervention. After action on both of them, there will be an opportunity for explanations of vote after the vote on any or all of them. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote before the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Mr. President. As you've already mentioned, we oppose this procedure of making decisions on participation of NGOs in the work of the General Assembly. And in the context of the high-level conference on situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar, we believe that providing access to a number of organizations from the new list would politicize discussions due to the inclusion of biased NGOs for which Their main motive is not improving the situation of ethnic minorities in Myanmar, but rather imposing their anti-government views on the international community. Therefore, we would like to put to a vote Australia's amendment, and we plan to vote against it. We call on all of those present to do likewise. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. We have heard the last speaker and explanation of vote before the vote. Before we proceed to take a decision on draft decision L107, in accordance with Rule 90 of the Rules of Procedure, the Assembly shall first consider draft amendment A/79/L113. The Assembly will now take a decision On draft amendment L113. A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favor of draft amendment L113, please signify. Those against? Abstentions?

The Assembly is now voting on draft amendment L113. Will all delegations confirm that their votes accurately reflected on the screen. The voting has been completed. Please lock the machine.

The result of the vote is as follows: in favor, 68; against, 12; abstentions, 46. Draft Amendment A/79/L113 is adopted. Since draft amendment A/79/L113 was adopted, we shall proceed to take action on draft decision A/79/L107 as amended. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft decision L107 entitled Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Think Tanks, and Academic Institutions in the High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar, as amended. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to Adopt draft decision A/79/L107 as amended. It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this day's stage of its consideration of sub-item C of agenda item 71. The Assembly will resume its consideration of agenda item 127 entitled Global Health and Foreign Policy to take action on a draft decision issued as document A/79/A. L102 and the draft amendment contained in document A/79/L110. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland to introduce draft amendment A/79/L110.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. President.

It's my honor to present this amendment to draft decision L102 on behalf of Switzerland. The active involvement of a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society, the academic world, and the private sector in deliberations at the UN on pressing global issues such as the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of mental health will enhance collective decision-making by bringing in a wide variety of expertise, experience, and perspectives. Switzerland supports the involvement of all stakeholders. We believe that transparency and inclusiveness foster trust and lead to stronger and more widely accepted For this reason, we support the procedure defined by the modalities resolution for the high-level meeting with regards to the participation of non-governmental organizations. The list of organizations selected by the President of the General Assembly for participation has been carefully prepared following an established vetting process. We express and confirm our trust to the President in this regard, and we fully endorse his selection. With this amendment, we propose to re-establish the list as originally proposed. We call on all Member States to support broad inclusion of stakeholders in the high-level meeting on NCDs and mental health, and to confirm their trust in the President of the General Assembly

and I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

We shall now proceed to consider draft decision L102 and draft amendment L110. For your information, draft amendment L110 has closed for e-sponsorship. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. President. Since the submission of the draft amendment, and in addition to the delegations listed on the EO document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of EO 110: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor L110, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. I see Canada.

Canada.

Republic of Moldova, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Denmark, Zambia. That concludes the additional co-sponsorship. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. Delegations wishing to make a statement in explanation of vote before the vote on any proposal under this item are invited to do so now in one intervention. After action on both of them— oh, sorry. Yeah, after action on both of them, there will be an opportunity for explanations of vote after the vote on any or all of them. I now give the floor I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Mr. President. In addition to what our delegation has said earlier today for previous agenda items, we would like to point out something about the the situation arising around the agreement of the list of NGOs for participation in the 4th High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of NCDs, as well as improving mental health and well-being. We've repeatedly noted in our statements that our delegation is not opposed to the idea of participation of NGOs in UN meetings if their activities do not reduce their added value. In this regard, we cannot help but express our continued concern about the inclusion in the list of the so-called World Alcohol Alliance, the main goal of which is to lobby for the interests of the alcohol industry, when alcohol consumption is one of the key risk factors for NDCs and can also lead to mental disorders. We must oppose the amendment A79L110. Participation in the upcoming high-level meeting for associations such as the World Alcohol Alliance would entirely fly in the face of our common goal, that is to reduce by one-third premature mortality from NCDs. By 2030 in accordance with the 2030 Agenda. A similar precedent exists for not allowing certain industries to take part in UN events, for example, for the WHO Framework Convention Against Tobacco. We'd like to emphasize that the final decision of the UN General Assembly must be adopted based on the no objection principle. Otherwise, it would lose its entire purpose. A number of countries believe that this— these issues should be resolved by being put to a vote, but we do not agree with that. We call on all member states to vote against the Swiss amendment. This way, our decision would be based on our desire to maintain a neutral and constructive nature for the 4th HLM on prevention and control of NCDs, as well as improving mental health and well-being, which will take place in 2 months. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. We have heard the last speaking explanation of vote before the vote. Before we proceed to take a decision on draft decision L102, in accordance with Rule 90 of the Rules of Procedure, Under the rules of procedure, the Assembly shall first consider draft amendment L110. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft amendment L110. A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favor of amendment L110, please signify. Those against, abstentions.

The Assembly is now voting on draft amendment AL110. Will all delegations confirm that the votes are accurately reflected on the screen? The, the voting has been completed. Please lock the machine.

The result of the vote is as follows: in favor, 70; against, 11; abstentions, 49. Draft Amendment A/79/L110 is adopted.

Adopted.

Since draft amendment L110 was adopted, we shall proceed to take action on draft decision A/79/L102 as amended. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft decision L102 entitled Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Relevant Medical Organizations, Academic Institutions, the Scientific Community, and the Private Sector in the 4th High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-Being, as amended. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt Decision A/79/L102 as amended?

Vietnam is asking for the floor.

Vietnam has asked for the floor and I invite the distinguished delegate to take the floor. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. Our delegation just would like to make a statement May I make a statement in explanation of vote after the adoption?

I kindly ask you to wait until after adoption. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt Decision A/79/L102 as amended? It is so decided. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote—

before the—

after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegate of Vietnam.

Thank you, Mr. President. Vietnam reaffirms its support for the continued engagement of non-governmental organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders in the work of the United Nations. We believe that the contributions of NGOs, when in line with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, help enrich the collective efforts to achieve our common goals. Many NGOs and other stakeholders from Vietnam have also actively contributed in this process across all spheres of the UN's work. In this spirit, Vietnam welcomes the meaningful participation of NGOs in upcoming conferences, including the 4th High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-Being, and other events discussed earlier in today's meeting. We thank the President of the General Assembly for submitting the proposed lists of NGO participants to Member States for consideration through the non-objection procedure. This long-established principle for decades has guided the decision-making process regarding NGO participation, and it's fundamental to ensuring both inclusivity and integrity of UN platforms. At the same time, Vietnam underscores the need to fully respect due process and the legitimate concerns of all member states. Any departure from agreed-upon modalities or attempts to override valid objections regarding NGO participation are setting unwelcome precedents, undermining trust among member states, and increasing politicization at a time when unity and cooperation are most needed. For these reasons, Vietnam abstained on the amendment A/79/L110 and other similar amendments considered today. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Representative of Vietnam. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote after the vote. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 127. The meeting is adjourned.