Fifth Committee, 20th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 80th session

Distinguished delegates, before we begin the business of the committee for this morning, I should like to inform delegations that, as agreed by the committee on an exceptional basis, the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in the advanced version of document A/80/7/Add.24 and A/80/7/Add.25 respectively, are available in English only and will be issued as soon as possible. I thank all delegations for their flexibility to proceed with these documents to facilitate the work of the Committee and would like to emphasize that this is on an exceptional basis and in no way sets a precedent. There should continue to be full respect for the existing resolutions of the General Assembly on multilingualism. I invite the committee to resume its consideration of agenda item 136, entitled "Proposed programme budget for 2026". Under this agenda item, the committee will first consider the reports relating to the question of revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council. In this connection, I invite the director of the programme planning and budget division of the Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget Mr. Christophe Monnier to introduce the report of the Secretary-General on revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council at its 58th, 59th, 60th regular sessions and 37th special session, contained in document A/80/525. Mr. Monnier, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, Madam Chair, distinguished delegates. I have the honor to introduce the report of the Secretary-General on the revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council in 2025, report A/80/525. This report provides details of estimated additional resource requirements for 2026, amounting to $14,591,500, net of staff assessments. including 25 new posts, 1 D2, 2 P5, 11 P4, 6 P3, 1 P2, and 4 GSOL posts, for which no provisions have been made in the proposed program budget for 2026. The additional requirements of 14,591,600 comprise 768 under section 2, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council Affairs and Conference Management; 162,600 under section 16, International Drug Control, Crime and Terrorism Prevention and Criminal Justice; 11,187,400 under section 24, Human Rights, for OHCHR; as well as 1,897,300 under section 24, Human Rights, under the proposed new entity, Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan, as well as $15,100 under section 28, Global Communication, $19,200 under section 29E, Administration Geneva, and $520,900 under section 29F, Administration Vienna, and $21,000 under section 34, Safety and Security. In section 3 of the report, it is proposed that the additional requirements of $14,591,600 be appropriated, representing a potential charge against the contingency fund for 2026. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, I thank you for your consideration of the proposals contained in the revised estimate report A-8525, and we look forward to addressing any questions you may have. Thank you.

I thank Mr. Monnier for his introduction. I now invite the chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Ms. Juliana Gaspar-Ruash, to introduce the related report of the committee contained in document A/80/7/Add.24. Ms. Gaspar-Ruash, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, I am pleased to introduce the report of the Advisory Committee on the revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council in 2025. The Committee notes the progress in the implementation of a mapping tool of mandates approved by the Human Rights Council and trusts that it will support discussions for a more efficient approach in the context of work stream two of the UNHAT initiative. The Committee recalls its view that, in the context of implementation of reforms under the UNAT initiative and the pursuit of enhanced financial sustainability for the Organization, all efforts should be undertaken to ensure that existing capacities are deployed to support mandate implementation, including new mandates, taking into account the overall budget of the relevant sections, the amounts requested and current financial constraints. The Committee recommends that the proposed amounts under Sections 2, 28, 29E, and 34 be reduced by 20%. With respect to Section 24, the Committee reiterates that OCHR should take concrete steps to instill a culture of efficiency, including through an in-depth consideration and effective use of available resources, with a view to addressing the automaticity of proposed for increased resources. The Committee also trusts that the establishment of the Human Rights Group will facilitate the United Nations' collective response to complex and evolving human rights challenges as intended and ensure a more cost-effective implementation of mandates. In that context, the Committee recommends against the following proposals: P-3 post under resolution 58/13, the P-4 temporary post under resolution 59/7 to be established as a P-4 general temporary assistant position for six months, four of the proposed five P4 posts under resolution 60/14, and two of the proposed P3 posts under resolution 60/20. The committee also recommends reductions of 20% under consultants, experts, and general operating expenses. Regarding general temporary assistance positions, of the 26 positions proposed for 12 months, the committee recommends against five positions and recommends that two others be funded for shorter periods. In addition, in respect of other resources proposed under other staff costs, the Committee recommends a reduction of 15%. Madam Chair, in relation to resolution 60/2, situation of human rights in Afghanistan, the Committee is of the view that, in the context of implementation of the UNHAT initiative, establishing a separate entity should not result in reduced coordination and consolidation of resources, or have a negative impact on the possible efficiencies to be drawn from capacities already existing in OHCHR. The Committee also recommends against the establishment of a security officer, two administrative assistants, and one reviser at this stage. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank Ms. Gaspar-Ruiz for her introduction. The floor is now open for any delegation who wishes to make a statement. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan on behalf of Central Asia and Azerbaijan.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of the Central Asian states and Azerbaijan. We express our appreciation to the Advisory Committee for its comprehensive assessment on the revised estimates under the UN 80 initiative and its support for the key recommendation contained in document A/80/7 and related materials. We call upon the Secretary General to ensure the full implementation in line with the General Assembly Resolution 76/274. Madam Chair, in the context of the discussion of the revised estimates for 2026 and the UN 80 initiative, we express our deep concern over the potential consequences that could lead to a de facto limitation on the use of four of the UN's official languages, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish, in the work of key secretarial structures, including the Department of Global Communication, regional commissions, and the organization's new service. We are particularly concerned by the situation surrounding the United Nations News Service. The proposed reductions of journalists and editor posts supporting multilingual platforms risks significantly diminishing the volume and quality of news content produced in the official languages, reducing coverage of member states, including those from our region. undermining the timely and comprehensive reporting on member states, priorities and initiatives within the UN framework, limiting access for media and the public to the official information in languages other than English. For the Central Asian states, as well as for many other members, the regional news coverage provided by UN News is of critical importance. It ensures public access to accurate information on the activities of the organization. greater transparency and trust in the UN, timely visibility of national initiatives and foreign policies priorities, strengthened engagement between member states and UN entities. A reduction of multilingual news production would in effect exclude millions of people around the world from the UN's information space. Madam Chair, we underscore that multilingualism is not a technical matter, but a normative and political foundation of the organization's work, ensuring equality, inclusivity, and trust among member states. The proposed cuts would reduce capacities for translation, editing, and interpretation. jeopardize the organization's ability to produce documents in all official languages, halt the publication of press releases, news articles, and social media content in four of the official languages, shift certain areas of work toward an English-only format, undermining equality among languages and the principle of multilateralism. We further note that the potential negative impacts of these reductions was not adequately reflected in the budget documentation and appears to result from insufficient coordination among secretariat entities. Madam Chair, in light of the above, we call for the following: for the Secretary-General to provide updated information on the impact of the proposed reductions on multilingualism, including implications for UN news, and to ensure the preservation of multilingual news and information services. To reconsider proposals affecting language services and journalist posts within the Department of Global Communications, taking into account the imperative of safeguarding the equal status of the official languages. For the UN Secretariat to develop alternative solutions that allow for cost optimization without reducing essential linguistic and information-related functions. and to use digital and AI tools only where quality, security, and full respect for linguistic equality can be guaranteed, and not as a substitute for multilingual journalists and editors. Madam Chair, this is not a matter of individual posts for editors, journalists, or translators. This is about fundamental principle of the United Nations. One, that underpins Member State trust and the organization's ability to fulfill its mandate effectively. We reaffirm our readiness to engage constructively with all delegations in search of solutions that will strengthen multilingualism, preserve the UN's new service, and prevent irreversible negative consequences for the organization's work. I thank you.

I thank you, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation on behalf of the state parties to the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

Madam Chair, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the states parties to the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State of the Russian federation and the Republic of Belarus. The States Parties to the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus thank the Secretary General, and we thank the Administrative Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs as well for the preparation of their report. The States Parties to the Agreement on the Establishment of the Union State regret to note that there are formidable barriers in the way of constructive international cooperation in the human rights realm. I'm referring to their continued politicization and the transformation of the unifying topic of human rights into a tool to pressure sovereign states. We're particularly disappointed. by the fact that there's an active participant in such machinations. It is the UN Secretariat, specifically the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Instead of carrying out its direct mandate, it's being drawn into political games, rubber-stamping biased reports with unverified information. Turning now to the Human Rights Council, its activity is far from ideal. Today, in this subsidiary body of the General Assembly, instead of the spirit of cooperation, there is an atmosphere of confrontation prevailing. This is largely due to the efforts of the states of the collective West to saturate its work with country-based issues. Sometimes this is done despite the lack of consensus, and sometimes it even ignores the opinion of affected parties. Here, what suffers is the implementation of thematic resolutions, and the penholders of these resolutions are largely developing countries, which casts doubt on the implementation in the Council of the principle of equitable geographical. representation. In this context, and given the already scant resources at the UN, we believe it would be useful to focus our efforts on the implementation of those mandates which, number one, are consensus-based, and number two, fit into the authority, the scope of authority of the Council. We see no sense in encouraging activities that undermine trust among states and engage in political blackmail. Specifically, we flatly reject allocation of the UN's regular budget funds to finance the following: Human Rights Council Resolution 58/19, 59/22 and 60/21. If the UN truly is striving to enhance efficiency as is set out in the UN80 initiative, then this would be a great place to start to cut expenses. I thank you.

I thank you, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Bahamas on behalf of Group of States.

Good morning. Thank you, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor. I have the honor to speak on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda. Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Uruguay, and my own country, the Bahamas, on agenda item 136, proposed program budget for 2026, revised estimates for the Human Rights Council. We would first like to thank Mr. Christophe Monnier, Director of the Program Planning and Budget Division, for presenting the report of the Secretary General, and Ms. Juliana Gaspar, Chair of the Advisory Committee, for the introduction of the related report of the Advisory Committee. on administrative and budgetary questions. Madam Chair, our countries maintain a firm commitment to multilateralism grounded in dialogue, the peaceful settlement of disputes, cooperation, and the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this context, ensuring adequate and predictable financing for mandates, emanating the firm resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council as the principal intergovernmental body mandated by the General Assembly in this field, remains a priority for our delegations and the work of this Commission. In 2025, the Human Rights Council held three regular sessions and one special session, during which 79 resolutions were adopted and 54 resolutions give rise to additional resource requirements. The estimated resources required for 2026 as a result of these resolutions amount to $88,991,600, of which $73,174,100 has already been included in the proposed program budget for 2026, while $15,817,500 constitute additional requirements. Following further review, in line with the UNAD initiative, the additional net requirements amount to $14,591,500. Madam Chair, our countries reaffirm that the pillars of the organization deserve equal treatment and that the proper financing of all pillars is a shared responsibility of all member states. The financing of each pillar should therefore be complementary as their objectives are mutually supportive and reinforcing. In this regard, the interrelationship between the development agenda and the human rights agenda is evident. as a sustainable development cannot be achieved without a multidimensional approach that places human rights at its core. Nevertheless, the portion of the regular budget allocated to the protection and promotion of human rights remains limited. Allocating resources in accordance with demonstrated needs is therefore essential to the strengthening this pillar and ensuring effective mandate delivery. Against this background, our delegation support the proposal of the Secretary General as necessary to enable the effective and full implementation of the mandates agreed upon by the Human Rights Council during the current year. Madam Chair, in closing, we wish to reaffirm that the consideration of budgetary matters in the Fifth Committee should not have the effect of undermining established mandates. We stand ready to engage in a constructive and cooperative spirit in the negotiations on this important agenda item. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank you, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Rwanda.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. My delegation extends gratitude to the Secretary-General and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for introducing their respective report. Rwanda reaffirms the principles enshrined in the General Assembly resolutions that established and reaffirmed the Human Rights Council's role as a subsidiary body of this Assembly. While we fully support the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, our focus in the Fifth Committee is not on questioning the human rights mechanisms, but on ensuring that the design, scope and resourcing of such mandates remains effective, efficient and aligned with the system-wide reform efforts, including the UNHRC. My delegation wishes to express concerns regarding the continued expansion and resourcing of HRC-driven mandates, particularly in the light of the ongoing UN 80 initiatives, which calls for streamlining, rationalization, and improved value for money across the United Nations system. Madam Chair, Rwanda knows the proposed additional resources of over 14.5 million for 2026, arising from the resolutions adopted by the Human Rights Council in its 2025 sessions. and note with deep concern that an increasing number of these mandates, particularly commissions for inquiry and fact-finding missions, are established and implemented without the cooperation of meaningful engagement of countries concerned. The reliance by many mandate holders on largely remote methodologies rather than in-country presence raises serious questions regarding effectiveness, credibility, sustainability and value for money, as well as the actual contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. Madam Chair, Additional resources requests for COEs should be rigorously assessed against clear impact, clear performance and cost effectiveness criteria to mitigate duplication resulting from the proliferation of HRC mandates, special procedures, treaty bodies and other UN entities addressing the same country situation simultaneously while each requesting additional resources. This fragmented approach undermines coherence and directly contradicts the efficiency and rationalization objectives of the UN80. Madam Chair, in the context of the persistent liquidity crisis of the United Nations, Rwanda stresses that all mandated activities impacted by this situation must be treated equally, guided by transparency, accountability, and non-discrimination in resource allocation. We question against prioritizing certain mandates over others, as this risks setting a negative precedent, undermining the Committee's credibility. The Fifth Committee has a responsibility not only to approve resources, but to ensure that they are used efficiently, impartially and with measurable impact. We must therefore reflect carefully on whether continued funding of uncooperative, duplicative and politically driven mandates represent the most effective use of our limited resources. Accordingly, Rwanda calls for a deeper analysis of all HRC mandated mechanisms to address existing duplication, create synergies ensure better coordination, and for the deferral of consideration of additional resources of new or expanded mandates to the second resumed session of the General Assembly, pending the outcome of the recommended analysis and the broader UNHAT-aligned review. Madam Chair, as a more sustainable alternative and mindful of the financial constraints, Rwanda encourages greater investments in regional and subregional human rights mechanisms, which are often better placed to engage constructively with states, support capacity building, and deliver doable, locally grounded solutions. Rwanda Delafour emphasizes that this position is principled, consistent, and non-selective, and applies equally to all HRC-driven mandates. We reaffirm our commitment to human rights by underscoring that credibility depends on impartiality, cooperation, efficiency, and universality. To conclude, we trust that the Committee will give consideration to these concerns and ensure that the resource allocation aligns with the objective of fairness, efficiency, and meaningful impact. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank you, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor. The Fifth Committee bears a responsibility to ensure that mandates are implemented with budgetary discipline, efficient and responsible use of resources, and full respect for oversight principles, guided by the values of equity and professionalism that underpin the credibility of the Organization. In reviewing the revised estimates, we note continued growth under Section 24, including additional costs linked to investigative and reporting mandates. While individual requests may appear limited, taken together, they raise concerns, particularly where mandates are open-ended and expansive in scope. My delegation notes that the Commission of Inquiry established pursuant to Resolution S-31 was created as an ongoing mandate without a sunset clause, a defined end date or review framework, and continues to generate additional resource requirements under the revised estimates, including those arising from resolutions 58/28 and 58/2. Madam Chair, in the context of the UN 80, it is difficult to reconcile commitments to reform and mandate review with investigative structures that lack any pathway for reassessment or closure. Such mandates raise serious concerns regarding whether this serves simply as another tool to single out Israel. When no standard exists by which progress could ever be acknowledged, and this absence is unique to only this COI, this raises serious questions of structural bias and antisemitism. An institution committed to combating discrimination must ensure that its own mandates do not perpetuate discrimination itself. My delegation believes that sunset provisions, clear objectives, and periodic review mechanisms are essential to preserving the credibility and legitimacy of investigative mandates. Without them, confidence in their findings and in the organization itself is undermined. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank you and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Venezuela.

Good morning, Madam Chair, and thank you very much for giving me the floor. Madam Chair, as a Member State of the United Nations, we wish to continue to strengthen its institution as an institution and the rest of the universal system. aware of the multiple challenges to the organization and based on the need to ensure that the Human Rights Council is truly democratic and impartial with a spirit of cooperation and dialogue. For all of these reasons, Venezuela wishes to reiterate its disassociation and rejection of the imposition of mechanisms and instruments that are established without the consent of the Venezuelan state. This is the case identified under HRC 5195, which manipulates and politicizes human rights. It creates inconsistencies without any methodological rigour and even using third-party sources so as to fuel an internal destabilisation agenda, which has been rejected by the Venezuelan people and by the entire international community. Finally, Venezuela reiterates its belief that we wish to protect and promote human rights, and we will continue to work in favour of a progressive, robust system in the United Nations without any distinction and under the principles of universality, objectivity and non-politicization, as well as non-selectivity on the basis of dialogue and transparent cooperation. Thank you.

I thank you. If there are no further comments, the Committee has thus concluded its general discussion on this question. Informal consultations on this question will be coordinated by Ms. Edilma America Herrera Garcia of El Salvador. Under the same agenda item, the Committee will next consider the reports relating to the question of the Contingency Fund. In this connection, I invite the Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division of the Office of Programme Planning, Finance and Budget, Mr. Christophe Monnier, to introduce the report of the Secretary-General on the Contingency Fund, Consolidated Statement of Programme Budget Implications and Revised Estimates. contained in document A/C.5/80/15. Mr. Monnier, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, I have the pleasure to introduce the Contingency Fund Report, which consolidates the statements of programme budget implications and revised estimates known on 1 December 2025, the revised estimates relating to the proposed programme budget for 2026 and the support account for peacekeeping operation for the 2526 period report a80/400 was excluded as it is being considered jointly with the program with the proposed program budget in December 2024 the General Assembly by its resolution 79/258a decided to set the level of the contingency fund for 2026 at 07 at 0.75% of the appropriation for 2025 or 27.9 million The potential charges to the contingency fund amount to 57.9 million or 30.1 million more than the level set by the General Assembly. The Secretary-General proposed that the level of the contingency fund for 2027 continues to be set at 0.75% of the appropriation for 2026. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, I would like to thank you for your support. We stand ready to address any question you may have.

I thank Mr. Monnier for his introduction. I now invite the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Ms. Juliana Gasparowicz, to introduce related report of the Committee contained in document A/80/7/Add.27. Ms. Gasparowicz, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, I am pleased to introduce the report of the Advisory Committee on the Contingency Fund, consolidated statements of program budget implication and revised estimates. As indicated by the Director, the potential charges against the Contingency Fund for 2026 amount to 57.9 million, exceeding the approved level by 30.1 million. The Committee trusts that more information will be provided to the Assembly on the different approaches taken by the Secretary-General in deciding when to submit requests for additional resources for 2026 after the presentation of the revised estimates for 2026 and the efforts made to absorb additional requirements. The Committee notes that since the biennium 2012-2013, the General Assembly approved additional appropriations that did not represent a charge against the contingency fund, to cover additional requirements reflected in the consolidated statements of program budget implications and revised estimates. At a time of financial and liquidity challenges, the committees of the view that the Assembly may wish to consider defining parameters and criteria for potential absorption in a more strict limit to additional requirements presented after the proposed program budget. The Committee recommends that the Assembly request the Secretary-General to present a proposal for consideration on options for improvements to the current framework of the Contingents Fund so it functions as an operational tool that effectively serves the purpose for which it was established. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank Ms. Gaspar-Ruiz for her introduction. The floor is now open for any delegation who wishes to make a statement. If there are no comments, the Committee has thus concluded its general discussion on this question. Informal consultations on this question will be coordinated by Ms. Julianna Zhivkova Angelova of Bulgaria. Dear colleagues, I would like to take a moment to say thank you for the incredible amount of work that has gone into our discussions so far. Everyone in this room knows how demanding this process has been, and the dedication shown by delegations, coordinators, the Bureau, the Secretariat has truly been remarkable. The Fifth Committee is never an easy space, especially when it comes to the budget. But the progress we have made so far shows what can be achieved when we engage seriously and in good faith. We have a final stretch ahead of us. Completing the budget before Christmas will not be simple, but it is absolutely within reach. It will take a bit more patience, flexibility, and, as always, willingness to meet each other halfway. I am confident we can get there together. And when I'm talking about Christmas, I'm not referring to the Orthodox Christmas, which is taking place on 6th of January. I want to be very explicit about one point. The Fifth Committee is not a political forum. It is a technical committee with a narrowly defined responsibility. to agree on a budget that allows the organization to implement mandates efficiently and responsibly. When our discussions are driven by numbers, figures, requirements, needs, and implementation realities, we move forward. When they are used to advance political messages or unrelated considerations, We do not. And we risk undermining the credibility of this Committee, and we risk not having a budget adopted by consensus this time. If we stay focused on our core mandate, we can bridge the remaining gaps. I thank you again for the hard work, the long hours, and the constructive spirit. Let's keep the momentum going and see this through together. And this way, Roy will also be able to go to Denmark to spend Christmas with his family. I thank you. The meeting is suspended.