Fifth Committee, 2nd plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Good morning, distinguished colleagues, delegates, your excellencies. Good morning to everyone, and you are especially welcome to today's session. Before we start, it was a tragedy yesterday and a very sad news for one of the member states, Nigeria, where a military aircraft crashed and about 30 military officers in the course of national service lost their lives. And on this note, I will create your indulgence of your excellencies to observe one minute silence prayer for the departed. So, thank you. May the departed soul of the Nigerian soldiers, air force officers that died in the plane crash rest in perfect peace. Thank you. I call to order the second meeting of the Fifth Committee of the 81st session of the General Assembly. Distinguished delegates, I invite the Committee to resume its consideration of agenda item 142 entitled "Scale of Assessment of the Apportionment of Expenses of the United Nations, in particular, the question of requests under Article 19 of the Charter." In connection, the Committee has before it a draft resolution containing document A/518/L.2, submitted to the Committee on the basis of a formal consultation coordinated by the representative of Paraguay. Are there any comments on the draft resolutions? But before then, I can see from the board there that the distinguished delegate from Japan has something to say. I give the floor to the Japanese from Japan. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to begin by expressing our profound appreciation to the committee and contributions, as well as the secretariat for their hard work preparing and presenting the reports. Mr. Chair, as one of the largest financial contributors to the United Nations, Japan attaches significant importance on the scale of assessments. These assessed contributions serve as the backbone of the United Nations, enabling it to execute its mandate effectively and efficiently. Therefore, it is vital that we uphold the principle that each member state should contribute according to its capacity to pay. This principle ensure a fair and equitable sharing of the financial responsibilities necessary for the UN to operate. In light of rapid evolving global economy, it is crucial that we refine our methodology for determining these assessments. Our aim should be to more accurately reflect each member state's real capacity to pay, utilizing the most current, comprehensive, and comparable data available. Mr. Chair, regarding the application of Article 19 of the UN Charter, my delegation sees the recommendations presented by the Committee on Contributions as appropriate. We endorse the exemption and encourage the member state with significant arrears, as noted in the Committee's report, to consider submitting a new multi-year payment plan. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much. the delegation from Japan. Are there any comments in the draft resolution? If there are no further comments, may I take it that the committee wishes to adopt draft resolution AC.5/Slide 8.1, Slide L, Slide 2 without a vote. I hear no objection. Does any delegation wish to make statements after the adoption of the draft resolution? If there are no further requests for the floor, The Committee has concluded its consideration of this item at this stage. Detail on when the General Assembly will take action on the related Fifth Committee report on this question will be reflected in the Journal in due course. Thank you. have some changes in the podium. Agenda item one four one four nine report on the activities of the office of internal oversight services. I now invite the committee to begin its consideration on agenda item one four nine entitled reports on the activities of the office of internal oversight services. It is my pleasure to invite the Under Secretary General for Internal Oversight Services to introduce the annual report on the activities of that office for the period of 1st July 2025 to 30th June 2026. Containing document A, slide 81, slide 319 of part one. Mr. Under Secretary General, of Internal Oversight Services. You have the floor.

Mr. Chair, distinguished members of the Fifth Committee, I am pleased to introduce the OIOS annual report on the non-peace operations activities of OIOS for 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. OIOS reviewed its work plan to ensure that its current oversight activities took account of the changes in the organization resulting from the UNAT initiative. OIOS will continue working closely with those entities managing the most significant risks and controls and will include a summary of related oversight results in the next annual report. During the period, OIOS issued 308 oversight reports relating to non-peace operations, including six reports to the General Assembly. These reports included 543 recommendations to improve risk management, governance and operations. All but three of these recommendations were accepted by management and are being implemented. The annual report highlights the types of risk addressed by the recommendations we made during the year, grouped within each of the key OIOS priority areas. A total of 849 recommendations remained open on 30 June 2026. Around half are still within their target date, and 22% had been open for more than 24 months. Secretariat entities with the most long outstanding recommendations included the Office of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Management, Strategy, Policy and Compliance, and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Lastly, the annual report also contains a summary of the results and recommendations arising from the final capping review of the governance and functioning of OIOS. Previous annual reports have contained the results of independent external quality assessment of the investigations, internal audit, and inspection and evaluation functions. The aim of this assessment was to provide an independent view of whether the OIOS internal oversight functions are working efficiently and effectively and in accordance with the OIOS mandate, United Nations regulatory framework, and applicable professional standards. The final capping review found wide support for the critical role of OIOS, not least in the context of the UNAT initiative, and that OIOS operates within its mandate in general conformity with applicable norms and standards and is well-functioning, well-regarded and impactful. As detailed in the annual report, the capping review made eight recommendations and OIOS has initiated actions to address those recommendations. Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, I would like to express appreciation to all member states for your invaluable support of OIOS. I look forward to the dialogues that this session brings and welcome your questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Madam Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services. I thank you for your speech. and for the statement made to this assembly. And I invite the Chair of Independent Audit Advisory Committee to introduce the report of the activities of that committee for the period of 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2026 contained in document A, slide 84, slide 318, Mr. Chair, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegate, I have the honor to introduce the report, Mr. Chairman, just outline. I am Suresh Raj Sharma, I'm from Nepal. I'm one of the five members of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee, and I am chairing this year. I will briefly highlight some of the key observations and recommendations of the committee. Distinguished members, you may have noticed that we have slightly modified the format of our report this year so that the committee's observations, comments, and advice are presented according to the levels of oversight within the accountability framework that the member nations has to look at from independent external oversight like the Board of Auditor and Joint Inspection Unit, our interaction with the internal oversight, the OIOS, and at the management level, and finally, oversight at the operational level. Implementation of oversight recommendations of the Board of Auditors, OIOS and the Joint Inspection Unit has improved in the last year, but some entities continue to slow implementation. The Committee has urged management to accelerate the progress of implementation of recommendation in these areas as well. In order to improve the quality and impact of the work of OIOS, as the Under Secretary General just introduced. Implementing recommendations from the external quality assessment of OIOS is crucial. While there has been progress in the implementation of those recommendations, the Committee remains concerned that some of the recommendations, particularly within the Investigation Division, were closed without implementation. We will, the committee will continue to examine this issue further. And the committee also has called on OIOS to prioritize and expedite all overall assessment of the office. The committee has expressed its concern with the increasing complaints and investigation caseload and has reiterated its recommendation that OIOS together with other stakeholders perform an analysis to get an insight about possible root causes. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/278, the committee continues to support the strengthening of the ethics office independence, while initiatives such as financial disclosure and advisory support are progressing. The Committee is concerned about the low confirmation rate of retaliation complaints and urges improvement in the reporting mechanism and outcome-based matrices. The Committee commends the progress made in implementing enterprise risk management and affirms that it is a vital management tool for the organization. the committee has emphasized the need to integrate the ERM, enterprise risk management, into the performance management system in order to mainstream the ERM thinking. Similarly, the committee has emphasized that the RNIC need to focus on demonstrating improvements in risk informed decision making. Regarding the financial reporting, the company The committee continues to monitor major areas such as train and issues in financial statements, the internal control statement, the fraud and presumptive fraud. The committee recommends that the organization clarify and standardize the criteria for classifying and reporting fraud and presumptive fraud. The Committee noted with appreciation the recent decision of the General Assembly to modify the practice of refunding unspent balance and has advised that the cash pooling arrangement that has been in practice for peacekeeping operations be applied to the regular budget as well as an urgent matter of risk management. Finally, on coordination and cooperation, the Committee emphasizes the coordination among the Board of Auditors, GIU, OIOS. There is a close coordination among them. Such cooperation and coordination helps avoid duplication and overlap gaps, but also enhances coverage of significant risk. Thank you for the opportunity to present the IAC annual report. I will be happy to try to respond if there are any questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much, the Chair of Independent Audit Advisory Committee, Mr. Chaba. Thanks so much for that brilliant speech. Thank you. The floor is now open for any delegation who wishes to make statement. I give the floor to the student representative speaking on behalf of Group of 77 and China, Ase. Who's speaking? Yugara, yeah. Yugara is speaking on behalf of the group of 77 and China. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We thank the Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, Ms. Fatoumata Ndiaye, and the Chair of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee, Mr. Suresh Sharma, for introducing the respective reports. The group reaffirms the essential role of OIOS in strengthening the organization's internal oversight through its audit, inspection, evaluation, and investigation functions. We reiterate our strong support for its operational independence in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 48/218B, which must be fully respected without selectivity. We welcome continued coordination among IOS, the Board of Auditors, and the Joint Inspection Unit. Their cooperation should strengthen risk coverage and improve the effectiveness of oversight, while respecting the respective mandates. The Group urges all relevant UN entities to cooperate fully OIOS in the discharge of its responsibilities. We encourage the Secretary-General to ensure continued reporting on any impediments to the Office's work and to take appropriate measures to prevent and address them. Mr. Chair, the group notes that OIOS issued 308 reports, excluding those relating to peace operations, containing 543 recommendations, of which 99.4% were accepted. We also note estimated savings and recoveries of $2.8 million. We welcome the reduction in recommendations outstanding for more than four years, while stressing that acceptance must translate into implementation. Management must implement accepted recommendations fully and timely, with particular attention to critical and longstanding recommendations. are concerned that resource constraints continue to affect oversight coverage. Internal audit resources were 14% below planned levels, while approved investigative posts remained vacant or were abolished. The group stresses the importance of appropriate resources for effective independent oversight. Regarding the UN 80 initiative, the group notes the incorporation of reform-related risks into OIOS assignments. We emphasize the need for rigorous assessment of the the effects of resource reductions and organizational changes on internal controls, program performance, and mandate delivery. The group welcomes the reduction in average investigation completion time to 10.1 months, despite capacity constraints. Further efforts must preserve the quality, thoroughness, and fairness of investigations. We reiterate our firm support for zero tolerance of fraud, corruption, and misconduct, and underline the importance of effective protection against retaliation for those who report wrongdoing or cooperate with duly authorized investigations. We note the completion of the overarching external assessment of OIOS and progress in implementing the external quality assessment recommendations across its three divisions. We call for timely implementation of the remaining recommendations and clear reporting on the resulting improvements and look forward to the IAAC's consideration of the overarching assessment. The group reiterates the importance of equitable geographical representation in OIOS staffing and remains concerned about the persistent overrepresentation of nationals of a small number of Member States. Efforts to fill vacancies must include concrete measures to recruit qualified candidates from unrepresented and underrepresented Member States and give due priority to equitable geographical representation as a key recruitment criterion. Mr. Chair, the group appreciates appreciates the IAAC's expert advice on oversight, risk management, and internal controls, and encourages its continued engagement with the Board of Auditors, OIOS, and the Joint Inspection Unit on work plans, oversight findings, and follow-up to recommendations. with a view to strengthening accountability across the organization. We welcome progress in implementing the enterprise risk management framework and emphasize that it must demonstrably improve management decisions and organizational performance. Persistent weaknesses in procurement, fuel, and asset management required sustained corrective action, particularly during organizational restructuring and mission transitions. In this regard, we echo the recommendations to strengthen data integrity controls, enhance risk aviation safety management and ensure that transformation related risks are systematically incorporated into enterprise risk management processes and regularly monitored by senior management we share the IAC's concerns regarding inconsistencies in reporting fraud and presumptive fraud the administration should apply clear and consistent reporting criteria reconcile reported figures with investigative findings and strengthen guidance training and investigative and validation processes we also support analysis of common themes and recurring causes of misconduct to inform preventive measures and oversight priorities we also reiterate our call for scrutiny of occupancy at headquarters and other secretariat premises and compliance with flexible working arrangements effective controls must prevent abuse including the splitting of arrangements to circumvent applicable limits and ensure that staff presence and working arrangements meet operational requirements and support Monday delivery Mr. chair the group of 77 and China remains committed to engaging constructively in deliberations on these agenda items. I thank you.

Thank you very much for your statements. I now give the floor to our distinguished colleagues from Switzerland. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chairman. I have the honor to speak on behalf of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. We thank the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Independent Audit Advisory Committee for their reports and their continued commitment to a more transparent, accountable and effective organization. This year, their findings deserve our attention more than ever. The United Nations is undergoing a profound transformation. UNAT aims to make the organization more agile, more coherent and better adapted to increasingly limited resources. But the deeper the change, the more essential it becomes to have a system capable of identifying risks in a timely manner. This is precisely where the role of OIOS becomes crucial. The report shows that changes related to UN 80 may affect governance structures, internal control mechanisms and programme implementation. We welcome the decision by OIOS to systematically integrate these risks into its audits, evaluations and investigations. But there is a tension here that we cannot ignore. At the very moment when risks associated with the transformation are increasing, oversight capacities themselves are under pressure. The resources available for internal audit were 14% below the planned level, resulting in the postponement of several assignments. Resource constraints also risk creating gaps in risk coverage. We must therefore ask ourselves a simple question. Can we ask the organization to transform rapidly while reducing its capacity to ensure that this transformation remains sound, accountable, and consistent with its mandates? For Switzerland and Liechtenstein, efficiency and oversight are mutually reinforcing. Strong oversight helps to identify weaknesses early, to avoid future costs, and preserve confidence in reform decisions. Mr. Chair, the report of the IAAC highlights another important point. The financial situation of the Organization constitutes a second fundamental challenge. We welcome the General Assembly's recent decision concerning the return of credits to Member States. The IAAC recognizes that this provides important flexibility to alleviate liquidity pressures, while stressing that it addresses only part of the problem. We therefore take particular note of its recommendation to consider applying to the regular budget the liquidity pooling mechanism already used for peacekeeping operations. This is a proposal that warrants serious discussion. An organization that has approved mandates but struggles to implement them because of constraints in the availability and management of liquidity is neither effective nor resilient. Mr. Chairman, UNAT can only succeed if reform, risk management and oversight advance together. A credible reform is measured not only by the savings it generates. It is also measured by our ability to preserve the integrity and accountability of the organization as we transform it. At the same time, UNAT must be accompanied by broader reflection on the challenges related to the organization's liquidity management. Switzerland and Liechtenstein will continue to contribute to this reflection and to advocate for a fully independent OIOS equipped with the necessary resources and capable of supporting these transformations with rigor. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much for your statements. Your Excellency, may I now call on, may I give the floor to Istra to make the delegation statement. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, for giving me the floor. At the outset, I would like to thank the OIOS and IAC for their invaluable work and for their continued efforts in supporting the Fifth Committee with professionalism and guidance. Israel strongly believes that effective and proper oversight is essential to strengthening the United Nations' capacity to deliver on its mandates. Oversight ensures that resources are managed responsibly, risks are identified and addressed, and instances of misconduct are diligently investigated. Chair, misconduct in any form undermines the integrity and reputation of this organization. The State of Israel firmly believes that all allegations of misconduct must be addressed seriously, consistently, and in accordance with due process. Any United Nations personnel found responsible must be held accountable. A zero-tolerance approach is fundamental to preserving the integrity and credibility of this organization. Israel welcomes the progress identified by OIOS in strengthening efforts to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse across the UN system. At the same time, OIOS makes clear that more must be done to strengthen accountability and ensure that a victim-centered approach is consistently applied across the system. Ultimately, a true culture of accountability is measured by whether responsibility is enforced and justice is delivered for victims and survivors. A culture of accountability begins with leadership. Staff must be able to raise concerns without fear of retaliation, with confidence that those concerns will be taken seriously. An accountability system can only be credible when those who speak up are protected and allegations of misconduct are addressed thoroughly, fairly, and without fear of reprisal. Without that protection, accountability cannot function. Chair. Accountability depends on more than just strong policies. It depends on strong institutions capable of enforcing them. Israel supports responsible efforts to make the United Nations more efficient and more effective. But efficiency cannot come at the cost of effective and independent oversight. In this regard, we take note of the recent Capping Review, which recognized the critical role of OIOS and underscored the importance of maintaining sufficient capacity for comprehensive, risk-based oversight, particularly in the context of UN 80. With rising caseloads and staffing constraints, the quality and credibility of investigations must not be compromised. Oversight must also help us learn from recurring failures. Where patterns of misconduct emerge, the organization should look beyond individual cases and address the weaknesses that allow them to persist. We take note of the IAC recommendation that OIOS analyze common themes and causes and reflect those findings in its risk assessments and oversight priorities. That learning must also be visible to member states. Timely access to findings, implementation trends, planned areas of review, and the outcomes of OIOS work is essential if we are to exercise our own oversight responsibilities effectively. Chair, strong and independent oversight is essential to ensuring the organization learns from its failures, addresses misconduct, and remains accountable both to its personnel and to member states. Israel will work on this agenda item and continue to work constructively in strengthening an oversight system that is independent, transparent, and capable of delivering real accountability. Thank you.

Thank you very much for your statement. If there is no any further comments, the committee has concluded the general discussion on those questions. In formal consultation of agenda, item 149 will be introduced by Ms. Kang of the Republic of Korea. I would love to use this opportunity to thank the Chair of Independent Audit, as well as the Under-Secretary the charge of internal oversight for a very good efforts and for your statement this morning. Thank you so much. We are grateful. We take a little time to invite Mr. Streicher to come over to the podium and make some changes. Agenda item one four four reports on the activities of ethics office. I next invite the committee to begin its consideration on agenda item one four four entitled reports on the activities of ethics office. In this connection, I invite the Director of United Nations Ethics Office, Mr. Tresha, to introduce the report of the Ethics Office as contained in document A/81/84. Mr. Tresha, you have the floor, please.

Mr. Chair, distinguished members of the Committee. I am pleased to present the 2025 report on the activities of the Ethics Office, pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 77/278, 60/254 and 63/250. In 2025, the Ethics Office responded to 2,025 requests for services, the second-highest service volume on record, reflecting the continued demand for ethics-related guidance and support. The Office continued to assist the UN staff in performing their functions with independence and impartiality by providing advice and guidance relating to outside activities, gifts and honours, matters related to conflicts of interest, institutional integrity, and pre-appointment reviews for senior positions. Under the UN Financial Disclosure Programme, just under 5,500 personnel were required to file in 2025. The program achieved a 99.9% compliance rate. The Secretary General's voluntary public disclosure initiative continued to show a consistently high level of participation at 88.4% with the participation of 129 senior officials. The Secretary General's voluntary public disclosure initiative continued to show a consistently, excuse me, I'm reading it again. In 2025, the Ethics Office received 284 inquiries under the policy on protection against retaliation, which was a significant increase from the previous years, including 72 preliminary reviews of protection against retaliation requests, with 10 matters being referred for investigations and the establishment of retaliation in five cases. The Ethics Office continued strengthening the organization's ethical culture through outreach, training, and communications, including induction briefings for newly appointed senior leaders, town halls, workshops, and in-person visits to five headquarters and field offices. The office also published ethics guidance and awareness material through the organization's internet. The 2025 Leadership Dialogue was jointly developed with the Office of Human Resources on the theme of demonstrating the United Nations values through our behaviors. More than 34,000 UN personnel participated in the dialogue, which focused on the implementation of the UN values and its five core behaviors in daily work. The Ethics Office continued to collaborate with departments and UN system entities to promote ethics messaging and enhance coherence in the development and application of ethical standards and addressing common ethical challenges. As the organization continues to adapt its operations to unprecedented challenges and opportunities, the Office remains a leading advocate for the values and principles enshrined in the UN Charter and a trusted advisor for its workforce. Notable increases in the number of requests for ethics advice and those concerning protection against retaliation serve as evidence of the Office's impact and relevance. The Office continues to support staff across the world in upholding the highest ethical standards. Finally, I would like to thank you, Mr. Chair, and the Committee for your support. I also thank my colleagues in the UN Ethics Office for their dedicated work. Thank you.

The floor is now open to any delegation which wishes to make a statement. I wish to give the floor to Ugo Nwagorah for a statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. You have the floor, Mr. Nwagorah.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China under agenda item 144, report on the activities of the Ethics Office. We thank the Director of the Ethics Office, Mr. Drash Strasser, for presenting the report contained document A/81/84, covering its activities in 2025. The group reaffirms that ethics is essential to the functioning, credibility, and reputation of the UN. An independent and effective ethics function is indispensable to promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability. We reiterate our support for the Office's independence, including its direct reporting to the General Assembly pursuant to resolution 77/278. A culture of ethics must ensure that staff perform their duties in accordance with the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity as required by Article 101 of the Charter. We also reaffirm the importance of equitable geographical representation in the composition of the Secretariat. Senior officials must lead by example and uphold these principles in their decisions and conduct. Mr. Chair, the group notes that the office received 2,025 requests for services in 2025, including 923 requests for ethics advice. We appreciate its role as an independent, impartial, and confidential resource for staff and management. Early access to clear advice is essential to identifying and managing conflicts of interest and preventing conduct that could undermine the organization's independence and credibility. We note the continued demand for guidance on outside activities, gifts, and institutional integrity. Staff must ensure that their outside engagements remain compatible with their duties as international civil servants. We also welcome pre-appointment reviews and induction briefings for senior officials and encourage consistent follow-up to recommendations for mitigating identified conflicts of interest. The group attaches importance to addressing risks arising from post-employment activities as recalled in resolution 80/235. Former personnel must not take improper advantage of their previous functions or seek to unduly influence the organization's decision on behalf of third parties. We encourage continued guidance throughout service and upon separation, particularly for personnel involved in procurement. Regarding the financial disclosure program, we welcome the submission of disclosures by 99.9% of required filers. However, submission must be followed by completion of all review and verification requirements. We note that 201 potential conflicts of interest were identified and 237 mitigation recommendations issued. We emphasize timely implementation of those recommendations and appropriate follow up on incomplete files and non-compliance. Mr. Chair, the group stresses that personnel must be able to report misconduct and cooperate with duly authorized audits and investigations without fear of retaliation. The office completed 49 preliminary reviews and referred 10 prima facie determinations to OIOS for investigation. Retaliation was established in five cases following investigation. These findings underscore the importance of effective preventive and corrective measures, timely case handling, and accountability for retaliatory conduct. We recognize the particular risks faced by field personnel and welcome the Office's expanded outreach to peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and the Resident Coordinator system. Accessible, confidential advice and protection mechanisms must reach personnel across duty stations. The group appreciates the work of the Ethics Panel in promoting coherent policies and consistent ethical standards, including on outside activities, gifts, and protection against retaliation. We encourage continued cooperation among ethics offices, sharing of good practices, and improved consistency in reporting while respecting the respective mandates and avoiding duplication. Mr. Chair, the Group of 77 and China reaffirms its support for embedding a culture of ethics, transparency, and accountability in the organization's daily work. We encourage the Office to strengthen its efforts to deliver on its mandated responsibilities and remain committed to engaging constructively in deliberations on this agenda item. I thank you.

Thank you very much, distinguished colleague. I now pass the floor to the delegation from Israel to make

Thank you, Chair, for giving me the floor. My delegation would like to thank the Director of the Ethics Office for the presentation of the report and for the Office's continued work to promote integrity, transparency and accountability across the United Nations system. We believe the Ethics Office plays a key role in strengthening ethical standards, supporting institutional accountability, and fostering a culture of integrity across the organization. Israel places a particular importance on ensuring a strong and comprehensive ethics framework across the United Nations system. In this regard, my delegation remains attentive to potential accountability gaps including where individuals exercising functions or responsibilities on behalf of the United Nations are subject to different ethics and oversight arrangements. We believe continued attention should be given to identifying and addressing potential conflict of interest and to ensuring consistent ethical standards across the system. The Ethics Office can have a crucial role in helping to strengthen the coherence and promote accountability across the organization. The ethic office plays a crucial role in strengthening accountability across the organization. Central to this is protection against retaliation, which enable personnel to raise concerns, report misconduct, and seek appropriate resource without fear of adverse consequences. Strong safeguard against retaliation are therefore essential to ensuring that accountability mechanisms are both accessible and effective. Accountability must be supported by prevention. In this regard, we support enhanced ethics training and outreach across the organization, greater awareness of applicable ethical standards, including those relating to conflict of interest and political activities. Those can help address concerns before they arise and strengthen a shared culture of integrity. Finally, Chair, Israel places a particular importance on efforts to address racism, discrimination, and intolerance, and believes that combating antisemitism is an integral part of that work. We believe the Ethics Office has an important role to play in advancing this work and in helping ensure that efforts to address discrimination across the organization fully encompass antisemitism as well. The credibility of United Nations ethics frameworks depend on strong standards, effective safeguards, and a shared commitment to the accountability, integrity across all the organization. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you so much. Thank you, my distinguished colleagues from Israel and Uruguay for your statements. Thanks so much. And let me also express appreciation to Mrs. Trezza for that beautiful paper presented to the committee. If there is no further comment, the committee has thus concluded the general discussion on this item. Thank you very much. Thank you. Informal consultation on agenda 144 will be considered by Ms. Tshiselae Lapapa of Lesotho, who will conduct the informal consultation on item 144. And adjourning the meeting, the committee conveyed condolences to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the great people of Nigeria on the passing on of the gallant officers who died in the plane crash yesterday. And we wish we have our sympathy for the family of the bereaved and wish Nigeria every success in this regard. The meeting is adjourned.