Sixth Committee, 21st plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Good morning, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. I call to order the 21st meeting of the Sixth Committee for the 81st session of the General Assembly. Distinguished delegates, this morning the Sixth Committee will continue and conclude its debate on agenda item 76, report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its 59th session, following which it will undertake its debate on agenda item 150, administration of justice at the United Nations. Distinguished delegates, let us now revert to our consideration of agenda item 76, report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its 59th session. I draw your attention to the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work undertaken during its 59th session, which has been issued as document A/81/17, which was introduced by the chair of the commission yesterday. The report is available on the website of the Sixth Committee. and that of UNCITRAL. I wish to recall the decision taken at our first meeting that statements delivered in a national capacity should be limited to seven minutes, while statements by groups of States will be limited to 12 minutes. Delegations are strongly encouraged to adhere to the time limits. The first speaker on the list is the distinguished representative of Panama. You have the floor.

Thank you very.

Much, Madam Chair. The Republic of Panama thanks the UN Commission for International Trade Law for presenting their report and recognizes the contribution of Member States, working groups and the Secretariat. This body plays an essential role in the progressive development and harmonization of international trade law. In an increasingly interconnected economy, having clear and stable rules strengthens trust in cross-border relationships and at the same time favours the settlement of disputes. This work is particularly relevant when it is engaged in through inclusive processes, guided by consensus and respectful of different legal traditions. Harmonisation must leads to cooperation between different rules and regulations while undermining the autonomy of states to include their results in their domestic law. As a member of the Commission until 2028, Panama maintains a strong commitment to this mandate. In the Panamanian legal order, Law 131 of 2013 that regulates commercial, national and international trade arbitrage is an expression of the commitment of our country to legal certainty and the existence of effective mechanisms for the settlement of disputes. Since 2021, we participated actively in the work of Working Group 3 on the reform of the dispute settlement system between investors and states. My delegation believes that this reform must lead to a more balanced system that guarantees the effective protection of the legitimate rights of investors, that promotes efficient procedures and ensures the independence and impartiality of those that have decision-making roles. What is more, it is necessary to contribute to more consistency in decisions and strengthening legal certainty. In that regard, we appreciate the finalisation of the draft statutes of the centre on international settlement disputes for investment and the adoption of the supplementary provisions on procedures. The centre can contribute to reducing asymmetries in the legal and institutional capacity between different states, particularly those that face limited resources or difficulties in accessing specialized knowledge. It's setting forth should guarantee inclusive participation, accessible services and a sustainable structure. We also recognize the work of the Commission to adapt international trade law to digital transformation. Recommendations on electronic issuing of relevant documents alongside reforms to the model law on international trade arbitration are timely responses to new practices. The application of these instruments must preserve the integrity of procedures as well as trust in the international legal framework in force, including the New York Convention of 1958. Panama's commitment is also reflected in the ratification of the Beijing Convention on the sale of vessels that came into force in our country in September 2026. This step reaffirms our willingness to contribute to the development of international legal instruments that strengthen trust in trade relationships and that respond to the practical needs of states. Madam Chair, Panama will continue to participate constructively in the work of UNCITRAL. We trust that their work will continue to lead to balanced legal solutions that are broadly acceptable and applicable in practice and contribute to the strengthening of international trade and multilateral cooperation based on the law. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Panama for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Singapore. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Singapore would like to thank the Chair of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, and the Commission Secretariat for the Commission's report, which shows a successful and fruitful year of work in modernising and harmonising international trade law. We would also like to commend the Chair for his stewardship of the 59th session, as well as the Secretary and her team for their work in the past year. Singapore reaffirms our strong support for the Commission, which continues to make important contributions to strengthening the rules-based multilateral system. In this regard, I would like to make three points on the work of the Commission for its 59th session. First, Singapore congratulates the Commission on the adoption of the UNCITRAL Supplementary Provisions on the Conduct of Proceedings to Resolve International Investment Disputes. These provisions contribute to ongoing efforts to improve the investor-state dispute settlement process by promoting greater clarity, efficiency, and predictability in the conduct of such proceedings. Second, Singapore also congratulates the Commission for finalising the draft statute of the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution. The Advisory Centre will play an important role in supporting states, particularly developing and least developed countries, by facilitating access to legal expertise and strengthening their capacity to participate meaningfully in the investor-state dispute settlement process. Third, Singapore also commends the Commission on its adoption on a set of text regarding recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards and the use of notices in arbitration in electronic form. These include the recommendation regarding the interpretation of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards with respect to arbitral awards in electronic form, amendments to the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, revisions to the explanatory note, and an additional note in the notes of organizing arbitral proceedings adopted in 2016. These texts seek to facilitate reliance on arbitral awards and notices of arbitration in electronic form. Greater use of electronic communications in arbitration can enhance the efficiency of arbitration proceedings and ensure that arbitration texts remain fit for purpose. The fruits of the Commission's work can only be fully realised when the legal standards prepared by the Commission are implemented. Singapore commends the Commission Secretariat for continuing to expand the important work of technical cooperation and assistance, which facilitates the effective implementation of these legal standards. Singapore partnered with the UNCITRAL Secretariat to commemorate UNCITRAL's 60th anniversary during Singapore's Convention Week 2026, which took place from 24th to 28th August, and attracted participants from more than 100 jurisdictions. The UNCITRAL Academy held during the Singapore Convention Week 2026 marked both UNCITRAL's 60th anniversary and 200 years of the establishment of Singapore's modern legal system. Singapore welcomes the progress reports in respect of ongoing projects and supports the Commission's work programme. Singapore will continue to engage constructively with all delegations in Working Group 3 to advance the remaining investor-state dispute settlement reforms. With a view to developing solutions that are effective, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of states, we look forward to further contributions by the Commission in International Trade Law. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Singapore for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Indonesia thanks Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu of Sierra Leone, Chair of the 59th session of UNCITRAL, for his leadership and for the report contained in document A/81/17. We also thank the UNCITRAL Secretariat for its valuable contribution and all delegations for their constructive engagement throughout the session. Madam Chair, this year marks the 60th anniversary of UNCITRAL, six decades of making the law of international trade more harmonized, more predictable and more inclusive amid increasingly complex challenges that demand greater innovation and inclusivity. As UNCITRAL enters its seventh decade, its work, particularly through its working groups, becomes ever more critical in addressing increasingly complex and emerging challenges. Allow me to highlight the following key observations. On Working Group III, Indonesia welcomes the approval of the Statute of the Adversary Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution. a significant step towards strengthening developing countries' capacity to prevent and effectively resolve investment disputes. Indonesia also welcomes the adoption of the supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment disputes. We value their flexible, stand-alone character, which allows states to apply them by agreement and to incorporate them into their treaties in a manner suited to their own treaty practice. On matters such as early dismissal of unfounded claims, third party funding, security for costs, and states' counterclaims, they can bring greater clarity, predictability, and balance to ISDS proceedings. Indonesia looks forward to their implementation including coordination with the remaining work of Working Group 3. On Working Group 4, we acknowledge the progress on data provision contracts and the new mandate on paperless trade. Both complement Indonesia's laws on electronic transactions and personal data protection, as well as our national single window. On Working Group 6, We commend the completion of the explanatory note to the convention on negotiable cargo documents to be open for signature in Accra later this month, and welcome the new mandate on secured transactions involving digital assets. Indonesia recognizes its potential to enhance inter-island connectivity, logistics efficiency, and trade financing through a single negotiable document. We are further examining the convention, particularly its complementarity with our national legal framework, including government regulation on multimodal transport. Madam Chair, once again, at a time of growing fragmentation in global trade, UNCITRAL's role matters more than ever. Building on our experience as a member of the Commission from 2013 to 2025. Indonesia seeks to present our candidature for the election to the Commission for the term 2028 to 2034, and we count on the valuable support of Member States. Indonesia will continue to contribute actively to ensure that international trade law serves the interests of all peoples. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand. You have the floor, ma'am.

Madam Chair, at the outset, my delegation wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and its secretariat for their dedicated work. Thailand attaches great importance to UNCITRAL's mandate to harmonize and modernize international trade and investment law. We highly value the Commission's ability to carry out its mandate in a non-politicized manner, thereby ensuring the quality, credibility and practical relevance of its work for States at different levels of development and with diverse legal traditions. As UNCITRAL marks its 60th anniversary this year, Thailand welcomes the opportunity to reflect on the Commission's achievements and its evolving role in international trade and investment law. We also welcome the activities commemorating this milestone and look forward to contributing to them. Madam Chair, allow me to highlight several outcomes of the Commission and its working groups that are of particular importance to Thailand. First, Thailand welcomes the completion of three UNCITRAL texts by Working Group II concerning electronic arbitral awards. These developments help ensure that the international arbitration framework remains responsive to technological developments while preserving legal certainty for users. Second, Thailand attaches great importance to ISDS reform under Working Group III. We welcome the completion of UNCITRAL's supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment disputes, which can contribute to a more balanced and effective conduct of ISDS proceedings, including by addressing procedural challenges faced by states. We, therefore, look forward to continuing our constructive participation in the remaining work of ISDS reform. In this context, Thailand particularly welcomes the progress made towards the establishment and operationalization of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution, including the revised statutes approved and submitted by the Commission for consideration by the General Assembly and the recommendations concerning the future headquarters of the center and the establishment of an interim secretariat supported by the International Trade Law Division of the Office of Legal Affairs. Thailand reiterates its strong commitment and readiness to host the headquarters of the Advisory Center in Bangkok. Thailand was the first country to formally offer to host the center and has actively supported its operationalization, including by hosting the first operationalization meeting in Bangkok amid financial uncertainty across the United Nations system. As mandated by the Commission, Thailand has already started to work closely with Morocco on the dual headquarters approach to ensure the most effective management and long-term sustainability of the center. We are confident that details and operationalization of the headquarters will be ironed out in a timely manner, and we will be ready to report back to this Commission next year. Thailand believes that the advisory center should develop into an accessible, effective, and sustainable institution that not only provides assistance to international investment dispute, but also strengthen capacity, facilitate knowledge sharing, and contributes to dispute prevention, particularly for developing and least developed countries. Third, Thailand welcomes the work of Working Group 4 on the draft default rules for data provision contracts. Thailand considers that a model law would be an appropriate instrument, given its practical value in guiding domestic legal frameworks. We also welcome Working Group 5's progress on the draft model law on applicable law in insolvency proceedings. Madam Chair, looking ahead, Thailand believes that the Commission's future work program should take due account of interlinkages among projects and the capacity of working groups to manage that workload effectively and sustainably. Thailand welcomes the Commission's decision to request the Secretariat to prepare a legal text on digital platform and private law. Given its close connection to the ongoing work on electronic commerce and the digital economy, Thailand stands ready to support further discussions within Working Group 4. Thailand also supports flexible arrangements for UNCITRAL meetings. Meeting formats should balance effective negotiations, efficient use of resources, and most importantly, equal participation by all States. Madam Chair, as UNCITRAL enters its seventh decade, the continued relevance of its work will depend on its ability to respond to new developments in international trade and investment, while preserving its technical excellence, inclusiveness, consensus-building and its non-politicized approach. Thailand remains committed to contributing constructively to the work of UNCITRAL and its working group in addressing contemporary issues, including digital trade, paperless trade, and the use of digital assets in secure transactions, only to name a few. We look forward to working with all delegations to ensure that UNCITRAL continues to develop practical, balanced and forward-looking legal frameworks that facilitate international trade and investment and respond to the evolving needs of the international community. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. At the outset, I wish to express my gratitude to the Chair of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, Anne Strow, for presenting the Commission's report on its 59th session. let me also express my sincere appreciation to the anro secretariat for providing support to enable the commission and its working groups to make progress I would like to comment briefly on the most recent developments regarding anro's work discussed during the commission 59th session Madam chair Japan would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the project on the stock taking of developments in dispute resolution in the digital economy. As you will recall, at 54th session, the Commission approved the secretariat's mandate to monitor the changing landscape of dispute resolution in the digital economy by analyzing and sharing relevant information. The stock taking project was subsequently approved as part of the annual resolution on the annual report by the General Assembly in December 2021. The work aimed at developing legal frameworks to facilitate broader resilience and reliance on electronic arbitral awards discussed in working group two has concluded with the remarkable outcome of the adoption of the text regarding recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards and the use of notices of arbitration in electronic form. This achievement represents a significant outcome of the stock taking project. We were pleased that this work came to a successful conclusion, delivering a concrete and valuable outcome. Japan appreciates the dedicated efforts of member states and observers to this work and commends the secretariat for their efforts in bringing into pollution. Japan will continue to support the ongoing stock taking project. Furthermore, recognizing the significance of the work to be carried out by the stock taking project and in keeping with its month commitment Japan is pleased to report that it contributed the necessary funds to implement the stock taking project so far Japan is convinced that these initiatives will bring meaningful outcomes and look forward to further collaboration with an astro secretariat interested states and relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the project and the discussion in working group 2. Madam chair As for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of ARSTAL, Japan was pleased to host the first commemorative event in July 2026, immediately following the last commission session. The event was successfully held as part of Japan International Arbitration Week, jointly organized by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and ARSTAL. We are delighted that this event set the stage for further celebrations. The event served as an opportunity to highlight the achievements of ANSTRA, including the project on the stock taking of developments in dispute resolution in the digital economy, and provided an opportunity for meaningful discussion on ANSTRA's future work. We were pleased to welcome many practitioners, researchers, and government officials involved in the field of international trade from both domestic and foreign sources. Through this event, we are convinced that the ties between Japan and Austria have been further strengthened. Japan expresses its sincere appreciation to the Secretariat for their close collaboration in steadily advancing preparations, which ensured the success of the event. Building on this achievement, Japan intends to further deepen its cooperation with ANSTO across its various activities going forward. In closing, I would like to express Japan's sincere appreciation for the Commission's significant role in promoting the progressive harmonization and unification of international trade law. Japan, as a member of the Commission since its inception, reiterates its full commitment to further strengthening its efforts to make a tangible contribution to UNSTROD's work. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Vietnam. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Vietnam welcomes the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its 59th session, contained in document A/81/17. We would like to join delegations before us in thanking Ambassador Michael Yombrun-Kanu of Sierra Leone, chair of the Commission's 59th session, for his leadership. We also thank Ms. Anna Jubinbret, Secretary of USITRA, and commend the USITRA Secretariat for the dedicated work in supporting the Commission. We recognize the Commission's important contributions to the harmonization and modernization of international trade law, particularly in investor-state dispute settlement reform, digital economy, and negotiable cargo documents. We also appreciate the secretariat's efforts to promote awareness and understanding of OCITran text among member states. Vietnam welcomes the finalization of the draft statutes of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution and the adoption of the supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment disputes. These developments represent important progress in strengthening states' capacity to prevent, manage, and resolve investment disputes, particularly for developing and least developed countries. Regarding the location of the center's headquarters, Vietnam welcomes the candidacies of Thailand and Morocco and supports continued consultations among member states to reach a mutually acceptable solution. We emphasized the importance of ensuring that the Centre is accessible, effective and responsive to the needs of all States. We also encouraged continued constructive engagement in the work of Working Group III, with a view to developing practical and broadly acceptable reforms that take into account the different interests and circumstances of States. Madam Chair, As international commerce becomes increasingly digital and interconnect, Vietnam encourages UNCITRAL to advance its work on the legal challenges arising from digitalization, including digital trade, data-related transactions, and digital assets. In this regard, we welcome the Commission's adoption of the revised provisions of the UNCITRAL Model Law on international commercial arbitration and the recommendation concerning the interpretation of the New York Convention of 1958 with respect to arbitral awards in electronic form. These developments contribute to greater legal certainty and facilitate the use of electronic means in international dispute settlement while preserving technological neutrality. We also recognize the importance of the Commission's work on negotiable cargo documents in facilitating cross-border trade and multimodal transport. In this connection, Vietnam welcomes the opening for signature of the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents in Accra, Ghana, in October 2026. and we express our appreciation to the Government of Ghana for hosting this important event. We believe that the Convention represents a significant step towards facilitating international trade by supporting the use of negotiable cargo documents across different modes of transport. We encourage continued efforts to promote awareness and effective implementation of the Convention, taking into account different legal systems and the needs and capacities of developing countries. Vietnam underscores that the value of UNCITRAL's work depends not only on the quality of its legal text, but also on their accessibility and practical application across jurisdiction. We therefore encourage the Commission to strengthen technical assistance capacity building and the dissemination of its text, particularly to developing and least developed countries. Inclusive participation, transparent deliberations and consensus-based decision making are equally important to ensuring that the Commission's work reflects a diverse perspective of Member States and enjoys broad acceptance. We encouraged continued coordination with other relevant international organizations to promote coherence and avoid duplication of efforts. Against the backdrop of ongoing resource constraints, we underscore the importance of ensuring that efficiency measures do not undermine the effective and equitable participation of member states, particularly developing countries in the Commission's work. Madam Chair, as UNCITRAL marks its 60th anniversary, Vietnam congratulates the Commission on six decades of achievement and reaffirms its commitment to addressing emerging challenges in international trade. We look forward to contributing to the commemorative activities and promoting greater awareness of UNCITRAL's work among policymakers, legal practitioners, businesses, and academic communities. As a member of the UNCITRAL for the 2025-2031 term, Vietnam remains committed to contributing actively and constructively to the Commission's work, including the ongoing discussions on investor-state dispute settlement reform and further work on public procurement and digital assets. and we look forward to working with all member states and the Osi transit crat to advance International Trade law that is coherent inclusive and responsive to the needs of international community I thank you Madam chair

I thank the distinguished representative of Vietnam for his statement I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan you have the floor sir

thank you Madam vice chair First of all, I would like to appreciate Ambassador Michael Imran Khan for his leadership of the 59th session of UNCITRAL. We also commend the work of Secretary of UNCITRAL. Pakistan commends UNCITRAL for the detailed report of its 59th session held in New York this year. We appreciate UNCITRAL for its efforts for the modernization, harmonization, and codification of international trade rules. We also acknowledge the salience of the Commission's work for the achievement of the SDGs through establishing and facilitating fair, stable and predictable legal frameworks for inclusive, sustainable and equitable development. Pakistan welcomes the significant progress achieved during the 59th session of the Commission's meeting, including finalization of the draft statute of the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution and adoption of supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment dispute among others. With respect to international arbitration, the Commission adopted recommendation regarding the interpretation of the Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, respect to arbitral awards in electronic form, revisions to the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and accompanying explanatory materials, and an additional note to the UNCITRAL notes on organizing arbitral proceedings. Madam Vice Chair, Pakistan recognizes the importance of the work of the Commission's working groups, especially Working Group 3 on investor-state dispute settlement reform since 2017. Considering the ongoing work of the Working Group 3 on ISDS reform, if you'd like to underscore the importance of prioritizing discussions on the issue of damage. In recent years, substantial damage award against states prompted critiques of the investment arbitration system with concerns that it favours investors and burdens developing countries. To uphold the legitimacy of the ISDS system, reform must balance the rights and obligations of both states and investors. My advice to you. Pakistan appreciates the interest of the UN Member States in hosting the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution and its regional offices. We are hopeful that following its operationalization, the Centre will offer essential legal services, including training and representation, to bolster the capacity of the States, particularly developing countries, in managing investment disputes. 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of UNCITRAL. This is an important milestone to celebrate Commission's contributions towards the progressive harmonization and modernization of international trade law and also reflect on its future role in addressing the legal challenges and opportunities arising from digital transformation and other developments. Pakistan would continue its engagement with the UN Member States, the Commission and its working groups for the attainment of its cherished objectives. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Pakistan for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cameroon.

You have the floor, sir.

Thank you very much. Cameroon aligns itself with the statement it made on behalf of the African Group and would like to make some comments in its national capacity. We would like to convey our Sincere congratulations to the Chair of UNCITRAL and to the members of its Bureau and the whole Commission for their unfailing efforts during the 59th session. Cameroon welcomes the finalization of the Statute on the International Advisory Centre on ISDS and the recommendations for its adoption by the General Assembly during the session. This is a significant step forward in fairer access to ISDS, in particular for developing countries. that do not necessarily have the financial resources and legal expertise and institutional capacities to deal with the complex nature of these disputes. To this end, my delegation is in favor of stepping up consultations between states in order, as soon as possible, to achieve consensus on the choice of the headquarters of this center and where its regional offices should be. Cameroon considers that these decisions should be guided by the need for geographical distribution, access and inclusiveness to guarantee that the Centre's services can be of benefit to all regions of the world. Particular attention should be paid to developing countries, in particular Africa, so that geographical proximity, helps to decrease obstacles to access to expertise and to legal assistance. My delegation remains convinced that regional representation will help to strengthen the universal scope of the center and will help it to make it into an instrument to build capacity in ISDS issues. My delegation welcomes the other progress made in other initiatives, the finalisation and the adoption of supplementary provisions on international disputes and on the recognition and implementation of arbitral awards. and e-forms of this. This work shows the UNCITRAL's commitment to improving existing mechanisms and to improving legal certainty in these areas. My delegation takes note of ongoing work of UNCITRAL working groups and very much encourages them to find concerted solutions to issues. We welcome the efforts and urges ANSADRAL to continue its work with determination, with a spirit of shared responsibility to have concrete and lasting results achieved. In terms of other activities, my delegation welcomes the signing of the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, planned for Accra, Ghana, in October this year. This instrument will help to promote international exchanges. Cameroon urges UNCITRAL to step up its cooperation efforts in the area of assistance and capacity building for developing countries. It is important for these countries to have the necessary means to fully participate in the work of UNCITRAL and to make the most of this. Madam Chair, while UNCITRAL is working. Cameroon welcomes what it has done since it was set up to modernize and harmonize international trade law. This anniversary of 60 years is very important given the changes in international trade law, the digital transformation, So UNCITRAL needs to help to draft model laws that are consistent and inclusive so that the interests and needs of developing countries be fully taken into account. Cameroon reiterates its commitment to UNCITRAL's work and remains convinced that dialogue, consensus, and international cooperation will continue to guide its action for international trade law. to make it more predictable, fair, and in favor of sustainable development. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cameroon for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia. You have the floor, ma'am.

Thank you very much and a very good morning, Madam Chair. Colombia is honored to be part of UNCITRAL. United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and we reiterate our commitment to continue to contribute to it actively and constructively. My delegation wishes to recognize the important work being carried out by the Commission to modernize and progressively harmonize international trade law as well as the valuable contribution of its working groups to the development of legal instruments that facilitate cross-border trade operations that strengthen legal certainty and that promote a more predictable environment for international trade and investment. Furthermore, we express our gratitude to the Secretariat, to the Member States and to the experts who contributed to the results achieved during the 59th session of the Commission. Colombia welcomes the adoption by consensus of the complementary provisions of UNCITRAL on conducting procedures for the resolution of international disputes, a result that is a significant step forward in the work of the reform of the system of investor-state dispute resolution. My delegation reaffirms its availability to continue to contribute constructively to pending discussions in the framework of the reform of the dispute settlement system, the investor-state dispute settlement system, including the work on the first instance bodies and appeal tribunals or bodies, as well as other matters that remain subject to negotiation. In this context, Colombia believes that it's essential that the progress and the reform of the dispute settlement system duly take account of the competencies, the skills of states, and the specific conditions under which they consented to be subject to international dispute settlement mechanisms in line with applicable international instruments. Chair, Colombia also underscores the importance of the Advisory Center for on international investment dispute resolution whose statutes were finalized during the session. My delegation believes that this initiative can contribute significantly to the strengthening of the capacities of states to prevent and manage international disputes in investments, strengthening more balanced access to specialized knowledge and technical and legal assistance. In particular, we underscore the importance that the design and functioning of the center effectively respond to the need of member states and facilitate timely, effective, and sustainable access to the services that it will provide, in particular for developing countries. Colombia also recognizes the progress made by the other working groups of the Commission and underscores the importance of continuing to review pending issues and new proposals for work currently under consideration, including those related to digital transformation of the economy and international trade. For my delegation, these efforts can make meaningful contributions to the goals of our current government, in particular in terms of productivity, boosting business, attracting investment, opening markets and technological transformation. In this regard, Colombia will continue to support the work of the Commission to build modern, inclusive and effective legal frameworks that enable us to harness the opportunities that come from innovation in the digital economy. To conclude, Colombia reiterates its support to the work of UNCITRAL and our conviction that multilateral cooperation, legal harmonization and capacity building remain essential elements to promote a more modern, balanced and effective international trade law that's able to respond to the needs of states and their citizens. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Colombia for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia. You have the floor,

sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Saudi Arabia, thanks. The UNCITRAL and we thank the chair and the secretary of on central for their efforts during the 59th session held in New York from July 29th 29th June to 10th of July 2026 we welcome the progress made relation to promoting a legal framework of international trade and enhance legal certainty, facilitate trade and investment transactions across border. Madam Chair, Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to the role of UNCITRAL in developing legal rules and norms of international trade to create a stable and transparent investment and trade environment and enhance global economy, taking into consideration the different needs and capacities of states. In this connection, Saudi Arabia follows with great interest the progress made in the 59th session in relation to the International Investment Dispute Center, including the recognition of arbitral award in electronic form and their enforcement and also updating the texts on international arbitration. Saudi Arabia reiterate the importance of continuing these works in transparent consensual manner, taking into consideration the sovereignty of states and their judicial jurisprudence. Madam chair, Saudi Arabia. Under the Vision 2030, continues to develop its legal, judicial, investment, and commercial framework to enhance the regulations and build more confidence in trade and make the national economy more competitive. Saudi Arabia commends the cooperation with UNCITRAL in developing trade legislations and capacity building under the frameworks with the National Center of Competitiveness and the Office of Legal Affairs. Saudi Arabia stresses that it is important to make use of best practices and expertise consistent with national expertise and economic priorities of states. Madam Chair, in conclusion, Saudi Arabia reiterates its appreciation to the role of UNCITRAL in developing international trade law and stresses its commitment to cooperating with UNCTRAL to create a conducive legal environment for investment, economy, and sustainable development. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Cuba on behalf of a group of like-minded countries. We wish to commence by expressing gratitude to the Chair of the Commission and the Secretariat for their valuable efforts in the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. As a member of the UNCITRAL, we attach great importance to its work and activities, as well as the technical environment in which mandates are being pursued. We welcome the 60th anniversary of the UNCITRAL in 2026 and commend the Commission for its valuable contributions over the past six decades to the progressive harmonization and modernization of international trade law. This important milestone provides an opportunity to recognize the Commission's achievements and reaffirm our support for its continued work in promoting a fair, inclusive and accessible international legal framework for trade, taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries. Madam Chair, we take note of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its 59th session, contained in document A/81/17. We underscore the importance of ensuring that the Commission's work remain intergovernmentally inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the interests and concerns of member states, particularly developing countries. We also note the adoption by the General Assembly through resolution 80/162 of the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, also known as the ACRA Convention, and look forward to its forthcoming opening for signature in Accra on 26 October 2026. Regarding investor-state dispute settlement reform and related institutional arrangements, we emphasize the importance of continued consultations, due consideration of the diverse views expressed by delegations, and the pursuit of broadly acceptable outcomes by consensus, while preserving the intergovernmental character of the process. Madam Chair, with respect to the statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution, We acknowledge UNCITRAL's significant progress in advancing the international investment dispute settlement framework. We would like to underscore that the status of the advisory center's full operationalization remains a work in progress, which needs to be pursued in particular to the benefit of developing countries. We look forward to discussions in relation to determination of the seat of the headquarters of the advisory center. We would like to underline the importance of ensuring that participation of regional economic integration organizations in the framework of UNCITRAL remains consistent with the principle of sovereign equality of states and preserve the balance of representation among parties to the statute. In this regard, the statute and its negotiating history prevents any additional or cumulative exercise of voting rights by regional economic integration organizations and their constituent member states that are party to the Statute and present and voting in the course of decision-making processes. This needs to be made clearer in this regard. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. You have the floor, sir.

Madam Chair, I would like to start by congratulating the UN Commission on International Trade Law, UNCITRAL, on its 60th anniversary. Since its inception, UNCITRAL has proven itself as a prestigious multilateral forum to draft high-quality legal instruments which are universal in nature. The Russian Federation highly commends the contribution of the Commission of the Commission into the development of economic cooperation and international private law. We are pleased to announce that the Russian Federation has become one of the organizers of events on this significant date. We welcome UNCITRAL's conclusion during its 59th session of work on a number of texts in working groups two and three. We believe that future implementation of these texts will bear witness again to UNCITRAL's successful work on the progressive development and harmonization of international trade law. As regards UNCITRAL's work on the statute of the International Advisory Centre, we hope that the Centre will play a significant role in overcoming shortcomings in improving existing investor-state dispute settlement systems. However, we'd like to underscore that we do not agree with the approach taken by some states namely that regional economic integration organizations apparently might be granted an independent vote in addition to their member states. We believe that this practice is not in line with the principle of the sovereign equality of states enshrined in the UN Charter. Despite the fact that REIOs can be independent members of the centre, the question of the modalities of them voting has not been decided on once and for all and requires further discussions. Regarding the discussions in Working Group 3 of different options for improving ISDS, we once again note the need for a cautious and balanced approach that would be based on broad consensus, objective results of an analysis of existing mechanisms in this area, and also would meet the aims of improving the current ISDS system without fundamentally overhauling it in an attempt to create some kind of new system whose effectiveness would be difficult to predict. We believe that the Secretariat of UNCITRAL's work on legal aspects of paperless trade needs to be commended. We believe that including this topic into UNCITRAL's normative work will help to consolidate various states' experience in this area and will help to prepare a comprehensive legal instrument that would cover various aspects of digital trade transformation. We believe that the work of UNCITRAL here will help states to have a coherent, consistent and useful guide for implementation that will promote consistency of legal regimes and increase the role of UNCITRAL as a leading forum on electronic trade law. We'd like to thank the Secretariat for their steps to optimize the work process of UNSCOTrial. Here we underscore the importance of inclusiveness in discussions, taking into consideration, whilst maintaining decisions that have been maintained in the official sessions of UNSCOTrial and the working groups with interpretation and translation into all the UN official languages and also having the rotation between Vienna and New York. We believe that this ensures the high quality of the final work of UNSCOTrial that UNSCOTrial can be proud of. The Russian Federation is prepared to continue to participate actively in UNCTRAL and in its working groups. I thank you very much, Madam.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Italy. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and its member states, and I would like to offer a few brief remarks in its national capacity. Italy records with satisfaction that 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of ANSITOL. We take this opportunity to extend to ANSITOL our best wishes and congratulations on this important achievement. and to reaffirm our commitment to working with the Commission and supporting the fulfilment of its mandate. We thank the Commission for the report on the work of its 59th session, and we acknowledge the considerable progress made over the past year. As a member of the Commission, Italy expresses its appreciation to the Secretariat for its constant and professional support, and to the chairs of the working groups for the skillful conduct of the discussions. Madam Chair, Italy welcomes the results of this session, namely the finalization of the statute of the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution, the adoption of the UNCITRAL's supplementary provisions on the conduct of international investment dispute resolution proceedings, and the completion of the texts on electronic arbitral awards and electronic notices of arbitration. Italy welcomes the finalization of the draft statute of the Advisory Centre, which is the outcome of a lengthy and inclusive preparatory process. We also take note that certain aspects, including the question of its seat, will continue to be examined in the coming months. We will continue to take part in the discussions in coordination with the European Union and other Member States. Italy is also pleased with adoption by consensus of the supplementary provisions, which reflect intense and constructive work carried out within Working Group 3 and by the Commission itself. We acknowledge the contribution this new text may offer to the conduct of investment dispute proceedings and of the possibility of using it as a self-standing instrument. Likewise, we welcome the completion of the package concerning electronic arbitral awards, comprising the interpretative recommendation on the 1958 New York Convention and the amendments to the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, and the related explanatory materials, which update the existing framework to current practice. Madam Chair, Italy takes note of the Commission's work programme and its gradual approach to exploring emerging issues related to the digital economy. We encourage the Commission to further examine new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and their practical implications for relevant sectors. We also commend its ongoing cooperation with HCCH and UNIDR, and encourage the identification of further avenues for discussion and joint work to ensure coherence among their activities in these areas. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Somalia. You have the floor.

Madam Chair, Somalia welcomes the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its 59th session. On 20th July 2026, Somalia acceded to the 1899 and 1907 Hague Conventions for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes. This step reflects Somalia's broader commitment to peaceful dispute settlement and to a predictable legal environment for international cooperation, trade, and investment. As Somalia expands its international investment relationships, we attach increasing importance to our preparedness to prevent disputes and to participate effectively in arbitration where it becomes necessary. Somalia supports the establishment of an effective and accessible advisory center on international investment dispute resolution. We take note of the finalization of its draft statute at the Commission's 59th session. The center should provide affordable, high quality legal advice and representation, with particular attention to least developed countries and states with limited institutional resources. Its support should extend to preventing disputes and resolving them at an early stage where possible. We also attach importance to the center working alongside national legal teams so that its assistant contributes to lasting expertise within governments. We encourage a consensus-based decision on the location of its headquarters, guided by objective criteria, including the host country's logistical and economic capacities and expertise in dispute settlement, while ensuring accessibility for developing states, particularly in Africa. Madam Chair, Somalia is committed to examining the international commercial law instruments that can best support its constitutional order, national development priorities, and integration into regional and global markets. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Somalia for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you for giving us the floor, Madam Chair. The Democratic Republic of the Congo takes note with satisfaction of the interim report under A/81/17 on the agenda item under review. We align ourselves with the statement made by the representative of Cameroon on behalf of the African Group. and wish to make some remarks on our national capacity. Madam Chair, my delegation particularly welcomes the finalization of the draft statutes of the Advisory Center and the adoption by the General Assembly of this is a major step forward in the process to reform ISDS. The DRC believes that the creation of this center must respond to a fundamental imperative, which is to correct the structural imbalances that limit the access of developing countries to specialized, effective, and financially accessible legal assistance for ISDS. In this regard, my delegation wishes to underscore three essential considerations. First of all, The setting up of an institution created mainly to assist developing countries must be close to the countries that it is serving. So this closeness should not only be considered in terms of geographic representation, it must also be accessible, the services must be accessible, costs must be reduced and the national capacities must be boosted and well as a better understanding for these countries on the legal and economic realities of beneficiary states. This is precisely in the spirit that the DRC presented Kinshasa, put forward Kinshasa as in order to host the Africa Regional Bureau of the Advisory Center, particularly to benefit the countries of Central Africa. My delegation recalls that article 9, paragraph 3 of the draft statutes provides that the committee envisaged the establishment of regional offices in five regional groups of the United Nations while ensuring equitable geographic representation. We also attach particular importance to the clarification brought to paragraph 33 of the report, A/81/17, according to which the establishment of several regional offices within the same regional group should not be excluded. This provision opens the way for a balanced, inclusive approach, taking account of the vastness of the African continent and the diversity of its different legal systems and the specific needs of its different sub-regions. For the DLC, Equitable geographic representation must therefore be concretely translated into territorial organization and the operationalization of the center. Thirdly, the DRC welcomes paragraph 5 of the provisions of the draft resolution that invites the future committee to consider the proposal submitted in 2025 concerning the establishment of the headquarters and the regional offices. This approach is of particular importance for our country, which is one of the first states to have concluded the formalities for the presentation of our candidacy. Madam Chair, I wish to reaffirm at this stage that the candidacy of the DRC is based on a firm political, financial, institutional and diplomatic commitment of our government. This commitment has been materialized by voluntary financial support to the tune of 5 million US dollars to support the process to set up the advisory center, in particular the activities for its future interim secretariat in line with the modalities that will be agreed on. Above and beyond this contribution, the Congolese government has also already undertaken the measures required on a logistical, real estate and administrative and legal and diplomatic level in order to facilitate the setup and the effective functioning of the regional body in Kinshasa, the regional office rather in Kinshasa. And we reaffirm the fact that we stand available to engage in constructive consultations with other candidate states in Africa in order to have a concerted solution that is respectful of the interests of everyone and the common goal to ensure balanced African representation. My delegation also wishes to applaud the significant progress made by UNCITRAL contributing to the modernization of international trade law and the achievement of the SDGs. In terms of e-trade, the DRC encourages initiatives to strengthen the harmonization of the applicable legal frameworks to electronic transactions, to paperless trade, and to the digital economy. These initiatives are of particular interest to our country, who is engaged in a digital transformation of our economy, as well as the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. In terms of negotiable negotiable cargo documents my delegation welcomes the adoption of the UN Convention in this regard and welcomes the opening ceremony for signature for the 20 that's taking place on the 26th of October 2026 in Accra, Ghana. This instrument is a major step forward for the facilitation of international trade in particular. allowing the circulation of these documents regardless of the mode of transport used, including in electronic form. In terms of insolvability law, the DLC supports the efforts to strengthen legal certainty, to facilitate redress for viable companies and to improve the management of cross-border insolvability in the interest of investors, creditors and economic development. To conclude, the DRC reaffirms its commitment to the strengthening of technical assistance and the strengthening of the institutional capacities of developing countries so that the instruments drafted by UNCITRAL yield concrete results that, in particular, benefit African economies and the economies of other continents. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam President, Madam Chair.

The Kingdom of Morocco would like to commend the leadership of His Excellency Michael Imran Khan from the Republic of Sierra Leone and thank him for the way in which he translated the work of the Commission or headed up, rather, the work of UNCITRAL and also the clarity of the presentation of the report. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Ms. Anna, the Secretary of UNCITRAL, and the entire Secretariat. Your commitment has been decisive in the outcomes this year. This is a particular year, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of UNCITRAL. In six decades, UNCITRAL has proven itself as a central legal body of the UN system in the area of international trade law. Its work is to harmonize and modernize and it's given economic operators and states a predictable framework and has contributed over and beyond just international trade law to promoting the rule of law in international economic relations. Madam Chair. As an active, committed member of UNCITRAL and its six working groups, the Kingdom of Morocco welcomes the outcome of the 59th session, in particular the adoption of the supplementary provisions of UNCITRAL on ISDS proceedings and also texts pertaining to the recognition and implementation of arbitral awards in electronic form and electronic arbitral notification that usefully accompanies the digital transformation of this. My delegation also welcomes the opening for signature on 26 October in Accra of the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents. Thus, the Kingdom of Morocco reiterates the importance of cooperation activities and technical assistance of UNCTRAL, in particular of benefit to developing countries. We support the efforts to expand its regional presence to ensure equitable geographical representation of its activities. The Kingdom seeks to contribute to this, and its commitment is part of an ongoing dynamic of cooperation with UNCTRAL. This has materialized through the 11th of November 2025, signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Moroccan Justice Minister and UNCITRAL, establishing a cooperation framework in the area of arbitration, mediation and other dispute settlement modes. This has also been reflected by the organization in Rabat of a study day on the reform of ISDS. and then 3rd to the 5th of July 2026, a regional seminar with the support of Canada. The participation of more than 25 African delegations meant that particular attention could be paid to the concerns and perspectives of states from the continent in this reform process and their participation in the work of Working Group 3. Madam Chair, the Advisory Centre on ISDS meets a real challenge. The cost of procedures, the scarcity of available expertise, disproportionately impacts developing countries and LDCs, including African countries. The Kingdom of Morocco, therefore, welcomes the conclusion of work on the statutes and its presentation to the GA and supports its adoption at this session and pays particular attention to the swift effective start of the centre. The effectiveness of the centre will to a large extent depend on it being accessible to those states that need it. The Kingdom of Morocco to this end would reiterate paragraph 4 of the decision adopted by consensus by UNCITRAL on the statutes the advisory center through which it would recommend to the GA to allow it to continue its discussions regarding the headquarters of this with the view of having a decision in 2007, and I quote, "It should be in Bangkok or Rabat." We would say that we would like the advisory center to be at Rabat. We have already started necessary domestic steps to provide for the necessary logistics, and we commit to providing the necessary human and other capacity to provide a propitious environment for the effective functioning of this center, and resources for the swift and lasting deployment of its activities. We also want to lend our legal expertise to it as well as our expertise to build capacity to interpret legal agreements on dispute settlement, to conduct arbitral proceedings and to use alternative dispute settlement means. Following up the recommendation from UNCITRAL, Thailand and Morocco have engaged in discussions, and we will give account to the Commission. We are committed to this consultation process, and through dialogue and consultation, we are committed to finding a solution that will ensure the effective start of the centre as soon as possible. The Kingdom of Morocco continues to support the work of the six UNCTRAL working groups and wants to ensure that the advisory centre be set up as soon as possible. Sixty years after it has been set up, UNCTRAL is absolutely crucial, and the Kingdom of Morocco would reiterate its commitment here in the spirit of dialogue and technical rigour that makes it so special. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh. You have the floor, sir.

Mr. Md. Ahramanur Rahim, Madam Chair. We thank the Chair of the Commission for introducing the report on its 59th session. and we congratulate the commission and its secretariat on a session of remarkable productivity. This year, the commission turned 60. In resolution 2205 of 17 December 1966, this assembly gave it a mandate to harmonize the law of international trade, and in doing so, to bear in mind the interests of all people, in particular those of developing countries. Those words were written when many of today's member states, including my own, did not yet exist as independent state. Six decades later, they remain the best measure of the commission's work. The idea behind the mandate is older still. In 1759, in Luke versus Light, Lord Mansfield held that maritime law is not the law of a particular country, but the general law of nations. Merchants have always needed rules that travel with their goods. When the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences to Oliver Hart and Ben Holmstrom, it began with a simple observation. Modern economics are held together by innumerable contracts. The Commission's work is to make sure those contracts can be trusted across borders. The Commission has given that old idea a modern form, the New York Convention of 1958, the modern law on international commercial arbitration, and the many texts that followed. Bangladesh acceded to the New York Convention in 1992, And our Arbitration Act of 2001 drew directly on the model law. For a country whose economy depends on exports, these are not abstract instruments, they're the legal infrastructure of our livelihood. Madam Chair, we now turn to digital trade. Long before any of our conversations, the Holy Quran laid down the rule of commercial prudence in chapter two, verse 282. It stated that when you contract a debt for a fixed period of time, commit in writing, Let the scribe write it down in justice between you. The insight is timeless, only the medium has changed. The New York Convention has drafted in a world of paper. The Commission's recommendations on its interpretation with respect to arbitral awards in electronic form, together with the amendments to the model law on awards and notices of arbitration in electronic form, confirms that writing today includes the electronic record, Bangladesh supports these texts, Our Parliament will consider them when our Arbitration Act is reviewed. They will bring legal certainty to small traders and large exporters alike, and they show that the Commission can modernize without reopening a treaty that has served the world so well. Then we come to the investor-state dispute settlement. Bangladesh has itself been a respondent in investment arbitration, and we know how heavy the cost of such proceedings can be for a developing country, in money, in time, and in expertise. We therefore warmly welcome the draft statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution and support its adoption by this assembly. Its purpose, in the words of Article 2 of the statute, is to enhance the capacity of states to prevent and handle international investment disputes, in particular, least developed countries and developing countries. The Seville commitment of 2025 gave the project the political backing of the international community. We also support the supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings, which will make proceedings fairer and more efficient while preserving party autonomy. One point deserves Commission's attention as the Centre becomes operational. The Statute gives priority to least developed countries and places them in the lowest contribution group. Several countries, including Bangladesh, are preparing to graduate from that category. Graduation is a mark of progress, not a reason to lose support overnight. It keeps with the Assembly's commitment to a smooth transition for graduating countries. We invite the future Governing Committee to consider transition arrangements for recently graduated countries and its regulation on priority and fees. Madam Chair, a word on capacity. The Commission's texts help only those who are able to use them. We thank the donors of the Trust Fund for travel assistance, and we support continued consideration of travel assistance for the least developed countries and other developing countries so that they can take part fully in the working groups. We value the work of the Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific, the cloud system of case law, and the Commission's commitment to all six official languages. Technical assistance is not an addition to the Commission's mandate. It is how the mandate reaches the people Resolution 2205 was meant to serve. One more text deserves mention. Next week in Accra, the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Carbon Documents will be open for signature. For the first time, goods carried by road, rail, and/or air, and not only by sea, will be able to travel under a single negotiable document in paper or electronic form that banks can accept as security. For a trading nation, access to trade finance often decides whether an order is won or lost. Bangladesh is studying the convention with a view to signature. Finally, Bangladesh supports the resolution commemorating the 60th anniversary, and in particular its recognition that consensus-based decision making and broad participation by states representing different legal traditions and levels of economic development give the commission's text their legitimacy. Madam Chair, Lord Mansfield spoke of a general law of nations of emergence. Sixty years ago, this Assembly asked the Commission to build that law with the interest of people in mind. Bangladesh will continue to support the Commission in that task, and we look forward to its next successful 60 years. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates. You have the floor.

Sayyida Rais, Madam Chair, the United Arab Emirates expresses its appreciation to UN Commission on International Trade Law and the chair of its 59th session, Mr. Michael Imran Kanu from Sierra Leone. We thank the secretariat for their efforts during this session. We also thank the commission for its report and document A/81/17. UNCITRAL plays an important role in in progressive harmonization and unification of law of international trade to promote legal trade and to facilitate cross-border transactions. This also builds trust among countries in full respect of the distinct legal traditions and development needs. We attach special importance to the international trade law keeping pace with digital transformation. We put forward a proposal on the future work of the UNCITRAL in addressing the legal aspects of digital economy and digital platform. We seek to ensure how we can put forward harmonized criteria to govern digital trade and economy in digital platform. This could take the form of a model law. My country supported this work, and we hosted the UNCITRAL Summit. on digital economy and digital platforms in December 2025 in Dubai. We also participated in the New York Forum in February 2026, and we took part in the UN annual session from 29 June to 10 July. We also attended an expert working group in Madrid in April 2026. This helped enrich exploratory work. We welcome the Commission's decision to ask the Secretariat to conduct exploratory work in consultation with experts and relevant organizations to prepare a draft text and to submit a draft report to the Commission at its session in 2027 to decide on whether this draft law will be submitted to a working group for further consideration. In my opinion, this work is of paramount importance because it explains the relation between operators and users of platforms, and it also identifies more predictable legal effects of this relation. This work must be conducted in good faith and transparency. It must also take into consideration the reasonable expectations of parties who must also uphold the work of the commission and ensure coordination with all relevant organizations to ensure that the next text will be aligned with the legal framework and avoid duplication. Madam Chair, in another practical measure that reflects our support for the peaceful settlement of international trade disputes, on 8 October 2026, we joined the the UN Convention on Arbitration. We believe that parties must have effective options to resolve their disputes and to build trust in settling cross-border disputes in accordance with the applicable legal framework. We welcome the Commission's activity in providing technical capacity and capacity building, including the training of judges and the dissemination of jurisprudence and other training materials in different languages. These activities are beneficial to beneficiaries and ensure the consistent application and interpretation of UNCITRAL texts. We believe that these training materials must be provided in all official languages of the United Nations, including Arabic, to allow least developed countries and developing countries to benefit from UNCITRAL texts. We continue to support UNCITRAL's Commission. This is why we submitted our candidacy for a membership for the period 2028-2034. We look forward, if elected, to contributing to developing practical legal frameworks that support international trade. We look forward to cooperating with all members in the spirit of consensus and cooperation. We look forward to contributing to exploratory work on digital platforms through the exchange of expertise and through in the communication with experts and interested countries. We look forward to support for our candidacy so that we can pursue our contributions to further advance the common objectives of the Commission. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Haiti. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, madam, for giving me the floor. Madam Chair, my delegation, first and foremost, would like to thank the United Nations Commission for International Trade Law, UNCITRAL, for presenting its report on the work of its 59th session, A/81/17. My delegation welcomes the efforts made by the Commission to modernize and harmonize international trade law, to strengthen legal security of transactions, and to facilitate dispute settlement in an economic environment that is constantly changing. Haiti pays particular attention to the work presented in this report, in particular in the area of international ISDS, trade arbitration, and the digital transformation of trade. This work joins up with several national priorities, in particular the modernization of the justice system, strengthening the rule of law, and creating a juridical environment propitious for investment and for sustainable economic development. My delegation considers that harmonising international trade law must be accompanied by ongoing attention paid to the needs of developing countries, in particular those whose institutional, technical and financial capacities remain limited. The aim should not just be to produce shared norms and standards, but also to enable States to understand them, to implement them, and to fully benefit from them whilst respecting their national priorities. Madam Chair, Haiti pays particular attention to the work on investor state dispute resolution. Strengthening equity, predictability and effectiveness of these mechanisms is important both for trust that investors have and for the ability of states to defend their rights and to preserve their decision-making ability in the public interest. To this end, my delegation underscores the importance of the draft statute on the Advisory Centre on ISDS. finalized by UNCITRAL and that is to be submitted to the GA for adoption, such a mechanism could contribute to reduce disparities between States in the area of legal expertise, preventing disputes and representation in international procedures. For developing countries, access to specialized advice and appropriate training could contribute to better assessing legal risks linked to investments to prevent disputes and to effectively defend the interests of states when a procedure is undertaken. Haiti, therefore, encourages ongoing efforts to make this center accessible, operational, and financially accessible accessible for those states that need it. My delegation also considers that the reform of investor-state disputes must remain inclusive, transparent and aware of the balance between protecting investments and the right of states to regulate in the general interest. preventing disputes, the recourse of amicable settlement mechanisms when that's appropriate, and strengthening national capacity must play an important role in this. Madam Chair, Haiti takes note of the work of UNCITRAL regarding electronic arbitral awards, electronic arbitral notifications, and the development of the legal framework applicable to international commercial arbitration. This work demonstrates the need to adapt legal instruments to digital transformations in the area of trade while preserving the reliability of procedures, the security of exchanges and procedural guarantees for parties. For Haiti, the digital transformation represents both a possibility to modernize and a challenge in terms of institutional capacity. Developing electronic trade, digital payments and digital platforms calls for clear rules and accompaniment from public institutions, professionals in the area of law and economic stakeholders. Technical operation from UNCITRAL here could facilitate this progressive ownership of these developments. My delegation underscores the importance of the work of UNCITRAL on negotiable cargo documents. insolvency and public markets. These areas directly affect the security of transactions, the predictability of trade relations, the mobilization of economic resources and the transparency in managing public affairs. modernisation can contribute to strengthening trust in the legal and economic environment, as long as reforms are adapted to the capacity and needs of each State. Haiti's experience shows us that consolidating the rule of law and economic development are complementary. Legal and juridical security, modernizing institution, and creating favorable conditions for investment must contribute to expanding possibilities for productive activity, for entrepreneurship, and for employment. From this standpoint, moving from assistance to more lasting economic partnerships should also in provide for a sufficiently reliable legal environment to be able to support the private initiative and to protect the public interest. This is why Haiti pays particular importance to the technical and cooperation assistance of ANSITRAL, trainings for magistrates and judges, lawyers in the administration, advocates and private sector actors and the dissemination of accessible resources in French would help to boost necessary skills to implement the instruments drafted by UNCTRAL. My delegation would also encourage ongoing exchanges between UNCTRAL, States and regional organizations to foster exchange of experience identifying national needs and disseminate good practices. A progressive approach based on national priorities and accompanied by the appropriate means would help to make UNCITRAL's work more accessible and its benefits more tangible for developing countries. Haiti reaffirms its commitment to UNCITRAL's work and its contribution to the harmonious development of international trade law. Haiti considers that the effectiveness of this depends not only on the quality of the norms and standards drafted, but also on how accessible they are and their effective implementation and the ability of all States to fully participate in their development. In conclusion, Haiti is committed to continue its cooperation with UNCITRAL and its partners to strengthen legal security and legal certainty to support modernization of its legal institutional framework and to foster a propitious environment for sustainable inclusive respectful economic development that is in the general interest I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Haiti for his statement I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ghana you have the floor sir.

Madam chair Ghana aligns itself with the statement delivered by Cameroon on behalf of the African group and wishes to make the following remarks in its national capacity. We congratulate the Chair and members of the Bureau of the 59th session of UNCITRAL. We take note with appreciation the Commission's report contained in document A/81/17 on a session held in New York from 29th June to 10th July 2026. Ghana commends the Commission's continued work to harmonize and modernize international trade law, including its progress on investment dispute settlement, commercial arbitration, and digital trade. For developing and least developing countries, fair, transparent, and predictable legal frameworks are essential to wider participation in global commerce and to translating trade opportunities into sustainable development. We therefore welcome the finalization of the draft statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution and the Commission's recommendation that the General Assembly adopt it. The proposed center offers an important opportunity to address the practical challenges that developing countries, particularly less developed countries, face in preventing and managing investment disputes. Disparities in financial resources, technical expertise, and institutional capacity can limit states' ability to participate effectively in these proceedings. Access to specialized legal assistance and capacity building through the center can help address these disparities. Ghana welcomes the provisions for considering the establishment of regional offices with equitable geographical representation to support the center's objectives. Madam Chair, The same commitment to making international trade law more responsive to development needs underpins Ghana's support for the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents. Adopted by the General Assembly through Resolution 80/162 and known as the Accra Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, it represents an important advance in the modernization of trade documentation. By providing a unified legal framework for negotiable cargo documents across different modes of transport, including electronic form, the convention can improve access to trade, reduce transaction costs, and strengthen supply chains. Its potential benefits are particularly relevant to developing countries, including landlocked developing countries and small island developing states. For Africa, it can also support trade facilitation and digital integration. in pursuit of the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the African Union's Agenda 2063. Ghana is honored to host the opening ceremony of the convention in Accra on 26 October 2026, one week from today. The ceremony will be followed by an international symposium on the convention's principal features and expected benefits. Hosting this occasion in Africa is a significant milestone and the opportunity to reaffirm the continent's contribution to the development of international trade law. Preparations are well advanced. High-level interministerial coordination and mechanisms are working closely with our central secretariat through Ghana's embassy and permanent mission in Vienna to ensure a successful event. Ghana is engaging the African Continental Free Trade Secretariat and the African Union Commission to engage broad African participation. We are also working with the Commonwealth Secretariat and other partners to broaden international participation while exploring ways to support the attendance of least developing countries. An inclusive and representative ceremony will help build the broad support needed to realize the convention's benefits. We warmly invite all member states to join us in Accra on 26 October 2026. and to designate ministers or other representatives duly authorized to sign the convention with full powers where required. We also encourage states to advance the domestic processes for signature and ratification with a view to the convention's early entrance into force and effective implementation. Madam Chair, the gathering also coincides with a year of UNCITL's 60th anniversary. Over 60 decades, The Commission's conventions, model law, and legislative guides have helped states build more predictable and harmonized legal frameworks for international commerce. Ghana will co-host a side event during the signing ceremony to commemorate this anniversary. This occasion will also allow us to recognize the Commission's achievements and reaffirm the contribution of African and other developing countries to its work. The anniversary should also guide our attention to the Commission's future. Ghana believes that OSITRO must remain inclusive, responsive to technological changes, and attentive to the needs and circumstances of developing countries. Broad participation in shaping its instruments, together with the capacity to put them into practice, will be essential to their continuing relevance. Madam Chair, Ghana reaffirms its support for OSITRO's mandate for and for the international trade law that advances legal certainty, facilitates commerce, and supports sustainable development. We look forward to welcoming member states to Accra and to working together to give a practical effect to the convention's promise. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ghana for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sierra Leone aligns itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished representative of Cameroon on behalf of the African Group. I will now make these additional remarks in our national capacity. Sierra Leone thanks the Chair of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for presenting the reports on its 59th session. We commend the Commission, its working groups and the Secretariat for their dedication to advancing the progressive harmonization and unification of international trade law. For Sierra Leone, the significance of this work extends beyond the development of legal texts. It concerns the ability of states to attract responsible investment, of businesses to trade with confidence, and of our people to benefit equitably from economic opportunity. International trade law must therefore be assessed not only by its technical quality but also by its accessibility and contribution to sustainable development. My delegation wishes to highlight four priorities. First, Sierra Leone welcomes the progress on investor-state dispute settlement reform, particularly the finalization and approval of the draft statute of the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution for submission to the General Assembly. We also welcome the adoption of UNCITRAL supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment disputes. We regard the proposed advisory center as an important opportunity to address disparities in access to legal expertise and representation. Its practical value will depend on whether developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, can obtain timely, affordable, and high-quality assistance. would therefore encourage arrangements that ensure sustainable financing, transparent governance, and service responsive to the needs of resource-constrained states. Capacity building should help national institutions prevent disputes, manage them effectively, and retain expertise over time. More broadly, reform must promote a balanced system one that provides predictability for investors while rejecting States' right to regulate in the public interest and pursue their development priorities. Second, CILoM welcomes the Commission's continued attention to digital trade, including its mandate to Working Group IV to review and further develop a consolidation of UNCITRAL texts on electronic commerce. Our delegation attaches particular importance to legal work on digital payments, an area in which CLM has supported further consideration within UNCITRAL. Our objective should be a digital trading environment that is legally certain, interoperable and inclusive. Modernization must not create a new divide between those able to participate in digital commerce and those excluded by inadequate infrastructure, limited skills or prohibitive costs. We encourage approaches that reflect different levels of development and give particular attention to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, including women and youth-led businesses. Innovation should expand opportunity while preserving trust, security, and effective legal remedies. Third, welcome the adoption of texts facilitating reliance on arbitral awards and the use of notices of arbitration in electronic form. As commercial activity becomes increasingly digital, dispute resolution must remain responsive. However, efficiency must go hand in hand and with due process. Electronic procedures should ensure reliable communication, a meaningful opportunity for each party to present its case, and safeguards for those facing connectivity or technological constraints. The test of modernization is not simply whether proceedings become faster, but whether justice becomes accessible. Fourth, implementation and effective participation must remain central to the Commission's work. A legal instrument can fulfill its purpose only when national institutions and commercial actors can understand and apply it. CERLAIN, therefore, calls for sustained technical assistance, including support for legislative review and drafting, judicial training, and engagement with practitioners and the private sector. We encourage demand-driven cooperation that responds to national priorities and supports regional integration. For African states, this includes ensuring that commercial law reform complements efforts to expand intra-African trade. Equally, developing countries must have meaningful opportunities to shape the rules they are expected to implement. We encourage continued support for their participation in the Commission and its working groups, alongside accessible documentation and inclusive consultation. Chair, Sierra Leone reaffirms its support for UNCITRAL and for a rules-based international trading environment grounded in fairness, legal certainty, and cooperation. Our shared task is to ensure that harmonization respects different legal traditions, that innovation advances inclusion, and that commercial law reform delivers tangible benefit for all countries. My delegation stands ready to contribute constructively to that endeavor. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zambia. You have the floor, madam.

Madam Chairperson, Zambia aligns itself fully with the statement delivered by the distinguished representative of Cameroon on behalf of the African Group and offers these remarks in its national capacity. Zambia commends the Chair of the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, His Excellency Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations in New York, and the Bureau for the successful conduct of the Commission's work during its session held in New York from 29th June, pardon me, to 10th July 2026. We further express our deep appreciation to the Secretariat of UNCITRAL, under the stellar leadership of Ms. Anna Jubabret, for their tireless work to ensure that UNCITRAL's fidelity to its core mandate is realized. Madam Chairperson, Zambia welcomes the report of UNCITRAL contained in document A/81/17, which details the substantive progress achieved during the 59th session of the Commission. We also welcome the continued progress made by Working Group III on the reform of investor-state dispute settlement. We reiterate our strong support for the operationalization of the Advisory Center on International Investment Disputes, as well as the near completion of its statute. Importantly, this milestone will level the playing field by providing developing countries with essential institutional support to navigate complex investment disputes. Zambia further commends the Working Group 4 on electronic commerce for completing the draft default rules for data provision contracts and looks forward to the completion of a model law. Madam Chairperson, these developments are of practical relevance to developing countries such as Zambia. Zambia has espoused the emergence of electronic commerce as an important driver of economic transformation and as a key ingredient to investor confidence. We, furthermore, welcome UNCITRAL's evolution as regards the legal dimensions of digital transformation. Today's global economy is largely driven by digital commerce and paperless trade. Therefore, harmonized legal standards governing electronic transactions, digital assets, electronic transferable records and interoperable digital trade systems will be even more critical to facilitating cross-border trade and integrating SMEs in global value chains. Madam Chairperson, regarding international arbitration, Zambia commends the work of Working Group 2, on the recognition and enforcement of electronic arbitral awards. We fully endorse the Commission's recommendation that under the 1958 New York Convention, arbitral awards should not be set aside solely for being in electronic form, aligning international legal frameworks with contemporary digital practices. Zambia recalls the adoption of the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents in December 2025 by the General Assembly and applauds the excellent choice of Accra, Ghana as the venue for the upcoming signing ceremony of the Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents. This convention directly addresses the structural vulnerabilities of landlocked developing countries like Zambia by minimizing transit times, mitigating cross-border transaction costs, and enhancing regional integration. This instrument also directly advances the priorities of the new program of action for LLDCs and provides a secure transferable mechanism for SMEs to access trade finance. This is crucial for the purpose of closing a critical access to finance gap. Madam Chairperson, regarding the inclusion of international governmental and non-governmental organizations as observers at UNCITRAL sessions and working groups, Zambia takes the view that inclusiveness and broad participation of relevant IGOs and NGOs will further enrich the discussions. At its 59th session, the Commission decided to defer its decision on the observer status of the International Organization for Mediation until its 60th session. As a developing country, Zambia's view is that the inclusion of IOMED would be tremendously beneficial to developing countries. Developing countries often bear the brunt of complex and expensive forms of dispute settlement in investor-state disputes. IOMED thus enhances the stature of mediation as a peaceful mechanism for resolving state to state and investor state disputes by providing the necessary institutional framework. It is indeed such relatable organizations that are of immediate relevance to and resonate well with the aspirations of developing countries such as Zambia. Madam Chairperson, regarding international logistics, Zambia emphasizes the necessity of maintaining the rotational venue framework between Vienna and New York. While recognizing budgetary constraints, ensuring the broadest possible representation requires accommodating developing states that lack permanent diplomatic missions in Vienna. In conclusion, Madam Chairperson, as we commemorate the 60th anniversary anniversary of UNCITRAL, Zambia expresses its profound gratitude for the Commission's decades of legal modernization. Worthy of note is the Commission's significant contribution to the progressive harmonization and modernization of international trade law. Having successfully integrated various UNCITRAL model laws into our domestic legislation, Zambia has experienced firsthand how a transparent, predictable and rules-based international trading system stimulates foreign direct investment and drives sustainable economic growth. To this end, the Republic of Zambia affirms reaffirms its steadfast commitment to and continued support of the vital work of the Commission in advancing the progressive harmonization of international trade law. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Zambia for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Namibia. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Namibia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Cameroon on behalf of the African group and delivers the following remarks in our national capacity. Madam Chair, as a point of departure, it is paramount to emphasize Namibia's commitment to the progressive development of international law, especially in the state of UNCITRAL. Namibia served as a member of UNCITRAL in a capacity as an elected official member state in the commission from 2007 During this period, Namibia participated in reviewing, voting and finalization of key international trade law text, model laws and legislative guides, such as UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, UNCITRAL Model Law on Public Procurement, UNCITRAL Model Law on Secured Transactions, UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records and UNCITRAL Model Law on Enterprise Group Insolvency. Madam Chair, Namibia notes with appreciation the UNCITRAL 59th session report in document A/81/17, informing about the current updated work of the Commission's work. Namibia warmly welcomes the progressive and inclusive development of international law reflected in section C paragraph 310 of the report, noting with appreciation the announcement that the Accra Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents will be open for signature on the 26th of October 2026. Madam Chair, NEB reiterates its progressive approach to the development of predictable and judicious frameworks governing international trade. This position is firmly rooted in the country's longstanding and exemplary adherence with the principle of the separation of powers among the three branches of the state. In this regard, matters pertaining to international trade all fall primarily within the jurisdiction of the Namibian courts, which continued to be recognised for their fairness, independence and transparency. Madam Chair. To alleviate the burden on the High Court, the Namibian judiciary in 2014 introduced a court accredited mediation as an option for alternative dispute resolution to settle all types of disputes outside court. This progressive initiative of our court saved parties about 50 million Namibian dollars in its first year of implementation. Accordingly, This development has been duly incorporated into the Namibian High Court rules. In addition, Madam Chair, Namibia has signed the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States, convention in 1998. Moreover, in reaffirming the independence and the integrity of Namibia's judiciary, it is noted that the Foreign Investment Legislation Act as amended provides a stationary statutory mechanism for the settlement of disputes relating to status investment in section 13, sub paragraph two, that stipulates that in a code. Where the certificate provides for the settlement of disputes by international arbitration, arbitration shall be in accordance with the arbitration rules of the United Nations Convention on international trade law in force at the time when the certificate was issued, unless by agreement between the Minister and the foreign nationals to whom the certificate is to be issued. Another method of settling the dispute has been chosen and the certificate also provides." End of quote. Madam Chair, in further demonstration of our commitment to the advancement of the cordial environment in international trade, Namibia in 2020 established the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, which became the first point of contact for investment disputes between a foreign investor and the domestic enterprise. In conclusion, Madam Chair, while Namibia adopts a progressive approach to international trade, we caution against regressive practices of international trade at an expense of the state's development. Henceforth, International trade should not be advanced to undermine the sovereign development of any state. Likewise, international law instruments should not be used to undermine a state's rights and obligations to pursue development and the social welfare in the best interest of its people. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Namibia for his statement. Distinguished delegates, the distinguished Permanent Representative of Namibia was the last speaker on the list of speakers on this agenda item. We have thus concluded our debate on agenda item 76, report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its 59th session. On behalf of the Sixth Committee, I would once again like to thank Ambassador Ghanou and Ms. Jobin-Pratt for their efforts this year. We wish you all the best. Thank you. I understand that in addition to the annual omnibus draft resolution, there will be an additional five draft resolutions negotiated under this agenda item. Mr. Matthias Edmeier of Australia will coordinate the preparation, I mean, excuse me, Austria, will coordinate the preparation of the omnibus draft resolution and a draft resolution on the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of UNCITRAL. The second of the two draft resolutions will be coordinated on behalf of the Bureau. Ms. Orouki Amoki of Cote d'Ivoire will coordinate the preparation of the draft resolution on the statute of the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution on behalf of the Bureau. Mr. Philip Sosa of Germany will coordinate the preparation of the draft resolution on the UNCITRAL supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment disputes, also on behalf of the Bureau. Ms. Azela Arumpak-Marte of the Philippines will coordinate the draft resolution on the recommendation regarding the interpretation of the Convention on the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards with respect to arbitral awards in electronic form, also on behalf of the Bureau. Ms. Thi Mai Lien Vu of Vietnam will coordinate the draft resolution on the revised articles of the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration on behalf of the Bureau. As agreed at our first meeting, we will provide the coordinators assigned to each item the opportunity to take the floor to give a brief indication of their plans and, if possible, to already introduce the initial draft of their proposals for draft resolutions where applicable. For the sake of time, I will give the floor only to Mr. Matthias Edmayr of Austria, will speak also on behalf of the other coordinators you have the floor sir

thank you chair.

Austria is very pleased again to serve as coordinator for the antral omnibus resolution in the sixth committee this year as you said there are five additional draft resolutions and these draft resolutions will be coordinated by my wonderful colleagues, as you have just outlined, from Cote d'Ivoire, Germany, the Philippines, Vietnam, and also Austria again. I was going to list the resolutions and the respective coordinators, but since you have already done this, Madam Chair, I think for the sake of time, I will not repeat this. It has also been sent via e-mail. The resolutions are based on the work of our Member State colleagues at the Commission and the draft resolutions have been circulated to Member States on 15 October. The first informal consultations to discuss draft resolutions 1, 2 and 6 took place yesterday in this Chamber and started with a briefing by Madame Secretary of ANSITRAL, Ms. Anna Chouvin-Bret. The second informal consultation is scheduled for tomorrow, 21 October, at 15 pm, during which we will first consider draft resolutions 3, 4 and 5, and then continue, if time allows, our discussion on draft resolutions 1, 2 and 6. I would like to thank all delegations for their constructive spirit yesterday, and delegations may send their written comments until this Friday, 23rd of October, close of business. I repeat, delegations who might not have instructions, for example, yesterday, may send their written comments until this Friday, 23rd of October, close of business. We will subsequently then work towards circulating an updated draft resolutions. Finally, let me also remind that the omnibus resolution is a country-led resolutions. I would therefore encourage delegations to co-sponsor the omnibus resolution to show their support for the valuable work of UNCITRAL once it has been uploaded to e-delegate. I thank you.

I thank you. I encourage the coordinators to use the e-sponsorship module on the e-delegate portal for the circulation of each draft resolution as early as possible and to submit them for processing in good time. Distinguished delegates, the Sixth Committee will now undertake its consideration of agenda item 150, administration of justice at the United Nations. I wish to draw your attention to the following documents, which are available on the Sixth Committee's website. Document number 1, report of the Secretary-General on administration of justice at the United Nations, contained in document A/81/176. Document number 2, report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services, contained in document A/81/292. and document number 3, report of the International Justice Council on Administration of Justice at the United Nations, contained in document A/81/161. It should be recalled that at its second meeting, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, referred the present agenda item to both the Fifth and Sixth Committees. In paragraph 24 of resolution 80/238, the Assembly invited the Sixth Committee to consider the legal aspects of the report to be submitted to the Secretary-General, without prejudice to the role of the Fifth Committee as the main committee entrusted with the responsibilities of administrative and budgetary matters. Please be aware that once again this year, informal consultations on the item will be coordinated by Ms. Natasha of Slovenia. It is envisaged that following previous practice, a letter addressed to the President of the General Assembly requesting that she forward it to the chair of the Fifth Committee will be prepared in the framework of those informal consultations. I understand that the annual briefing on this agenda item was held last Friday. We shall now commence our debate. And I recall the decision taken at our first meeting that statements delivered in national capacity should be limited to seven minutes, while statements by groups of states will be limited to 12 minutes. Delegations are strongly encouraged to adhere to the time limits. The first speaker on the list is a distinguished representative of Cameroon, speaking on behalf of the African group. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor. I have the honor to deliver a statement on behalf of the African group. The African group would like to thank the Secretary General for his report on the administration of justice at the UN, contained in document A/H1/176. A/H1/292 and A/H1/161. We also thank the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Service, as well as the Office of Internal Justice Council for their proactive dedication towards strengthening the delivery and administration of justice within the UN. Madam Chair. The African Group attaches great importance to an independent, credible, impartial, transparent, and professionalized administration of justice within the UN, at the core of which lies an effective independent judicial system to tackle administrative dispute while appreciating the close connection between an effective internal justice system and the organization immunity from legal processes. The group underscored that an effective dispute resolution mechanism under the UN should be anchored solidly on relevant laws, ensuring equal protection for all, while also safeguarding the inherent right of all personnel, promoting accountability and the values of integrity that underpins the establishment of the UN. The African group underscored the importance of multilingualism as essential for inclusion, and the preservation of linguistic diversity, and as such, appreciate efforts for the continued promotion of multilingualism in the work of the Dispute Tribunal. In this regard, the group comments the effort that have been deployed for cost-effective meeting management software that support interpretation, and this has been reflected in the current proceeding of the Tribunal. The group supports adequate effort to strengthen the United Nations internal system of justice to ensure that work-related disputes are addressed in a timely, transparent, and judicious manner. In this regard, it considers the formal and informal component of dispute resolution under the UN as mutually reinforcing, with informal consultation playing an instrumental role in the overall administration of justice. In this regard, We continue to envisage the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services as the primary mechanism for informal resolution within the structure of the United Nations. The African Group remains firmly convinced that the organization has made substantial improvement and significant progress, notwithstanding the budgetary constraint confronting the organization, including through the appointment of full-time judges the holding of plenary meetings, and the re-election of the President of the Dispute Tribunal, as evidenced by the Secretary-General evaluation report. In this regard, we urge the United Nations to continue to build on this positive momentum with a view to ensuring the proper administration of justice and preventing the accumulation of a backlog of pending cases. in light of the implementation of the un8 initiative and the ongoing liquidity crisis the African group notes with concerned increase in the number of case before the dispute tribunal from 66 in 2024 to 134 in 2025 in this regard the African group urges that any proposal made as part of organizational reform and restructuring must preserve the integrity, effectiveness, and capacity of the existing mandate prescribed under the necessary resolution. In this regard, the group reiterates that reform should not serve as an impediment to dilute the mandate of the administration of justice in a way that will impede the ability to respond decisively to current challenges or to carry out their responsibility. The group further reiterates that appropriate safeguards should be considered, particularly considering the increase in cases to avert unintended consequences for the administration of justice. The African group holds with serious concern any allegation of racism or racial discrimination within the structure of the UN and commends the proactive and considerable step-taking to address this trend. including the availability of tools to address inequality, stereotypes and racial prejudice. The Group, therefore, continues to reiterate that concrete action should be taken to ensure equality before the law and to address all systemic and structural racism. The Group continues to call for the awareness-raising relating to multicultural understanding and consideration for victim rights. The group also reiterates its zero tolerance of sexual harassment and workplace exploitation. Madam Chair, the African Group takes note of the report of the Interim Justice Council in paragraph 4 and 5 of document A/H.1/161 concerning the meeting with stakeholders held this year, in which the Council circulated a questionnaire to garner perspective on the conduct of induction program to assist newly elected judges to strengthen the administration of justice. Accordingly, and having reviewed the feedback provided by stakeholders, the group attaches great significance to the five priority identified to assist the judges in carrying out their functions. The group notes that the internal judicial council recommendation gave judicial mediation top priority to resolving dispute more expeditiously, cost effectively, and with less acrimony. Considering this recommendation, the African Group regard Article 19 of the Tribunal Rules of Procedure as vital, particularly when all informal avenues have been exhausted in good faith. These avenues encompass extensive services provided by the Office of the UN Ombudsman and mediation services under the Informal First. Where a matter raises legal questions that will be of value from a formal determination or where it necessitates a precedent-setting intervention, such as in a recurring or group context, direct formal intervention should be considered as the best course of action under the circumstances. Accordingly, the context of judicial mediation and conciliatory proceeding on the one hand and informal and formal mediation conducted by the Ombudsman Office on the other hand should be appropriately considered as complementary and not mutually exclusive. Moreover, given the voluntary nature of the service provided by the Ombudsman Office, the choice between mediation or conciliatory proceeding conducted by a judge and mediation presided over by Ombudsman Office should be left at the discretion of the parties to the dispute, in line with the voluntary nature of the Ombudsman Office and standard of individual autonomy. Consequently, it is the position of the African Group that informal conflict resolution services are conducted by different offices throughout the administration of justice system. We believe that access to a broad range of services can only enhance effectively the overall determination of the administration of justice in the UN. The African Group is of the view that this consideration could be weighed to ensure credibility and integrity of judicial institution as espoused under Resolution 62/228. The African Group also took note of allegation of discriminatory conduct among judges and the inappropriate and abusive treatment of registry staff stipulated in the report of the Internal Judicial Council. The group reiterates its principal stand of condemning all form of discrimination and further note that awareness initiative and corrective measure should serve as an alternative strategy and proposes that the Secretary-General initiate an inquiry to identify the cause of this disturbing trend and take appropriate measure to put an end to it. Madam Chair, to conclude, the African Group reiterates its continued and unwavering commitment to the administration of justice at the UN. We support all efforts to strengthen the values and principles of the United Nations in all judicial proceedings and conflict resolution mechanisms. Getting in mind the ongoing structural reforms, we also call on the organization to improve its effort and its internal justice system and to consistently provide staff member as its most important asset, the justice they deserve in the spirit of impartiality, accessibility, transparency, effectiveness, inclusivity, and accountability. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cameroon, speaking on behalf of the African group. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union, speaking on behalf of the European Union and its member states. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia, as well as Monaco and San Marino, align themselves with this statement. We thank the Secretary-General, the Office of the UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services, and the International Justice Council for their reports. And we thank all those involved in the system of administration of justice for their dedication and their continued efforts to improve its functioning. An independent, transparent, professionalized, adequately resourced, and decentralized system of administration of justice is crucial for upholding the rights of all personnel, promoting accountability, and maintaining the integrity and reputation of the organization. This year's reports show a system under growing pressure. New applications to the Dispute Tribunal rose by around two-thirds in 2025. The pending caseload reached 320 cases by the end of May, and the workload of the Office of Staff Legal Assistance increased by over 70%. We welcome the information provided on the functioning of the system in the light of the UNID initiative and other changes processes, while noting that it is too early to assess their full impact. We continue to support UN reform. And as the organization changes, we must ensure that the system is equipped to meet these challenges effectively. We encourage the Secretary-General to continue providing comprehensive information in future reports. As regards the formal systems, the first step, management evaluation, continues to play a key role, with the overwhelming majority of requests in the Secretariat not proceeding to the Dispute Tribunal. We commend the Office of the Staff Legal Assistance for maintaining timely services despite the surge in request. We know the Council's concern regarding late decisions on representation and the possible increase in self-represented litigants, which underline the importance of access to professional legal assistance. We note with concern the increase in cases pending for over 400 days. Timeliness is essential to effective remedies. The information on restatement and compensation confirms that the passage of time can make restatement impractical. We take note of the internal justice council's recommendations on the timely disposals of cases and delivery of judgments, as well as its intention to examine case consolidation in full respect of the independence of the tribunals. Chair, access to justice for all categories of personnel remains a priority for the European Union and its Member States. Access to the formal justice system for non-staff personnel remains limited. We continue to advocate for exploring how to improve remedies offered to non-staff personnel, particularly their access to the formal justice system, while taking into account budgetary constraints. We have also consistently supported the possibility for the tribunals to grant anonymity to victims and witnesses where circumstances so require, as a safeguard against retaliation, and we look forward to the Council's review of anonymisation practices in Britain judgments. As regards the informal system, we reiterate our full support to the continued promotion and expansion of the informal first approach. Mediation cases handled by the Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services rose by 34% in 2025, with a high resolution rate. As the UN navigates organizational change, the Ombudsman and Mediation's function is increasingly critical. We note that staffing limitations prevented proactive outreach to non-staff personnel, whose equitable access to these services remains important. We welcome the increase in referrals to mediation by the Dispute Tribunal. We take note of the Internal Justice Council's view and recommendations on judicial mediation. Turning to general points, we reiterate our serious concerns about racism and racial discrimination in the workplace. We take note of the arrangements for the voluntary anonymised collection of race-related data. Ensuring that misconduct can be reported without fear of retaliation remains essential to integrity, transparency and accountability. We appreciate continued multilingualism efforts and encourage the cost-effective use of technology under adequate human oversight and with appropriate quality control and the promotion of the UN Strategic Framework on Multilingualism. Chair, to conclude, a well-functioning, accessible and adequately resourced system of administration of justice is essential not only for protecting individual rights and the well-being of the personnel, but also for the reputation of organizations and its ability to fulfill its mandate effectively. We remain committed to working constructively with all member states and stakeholders to that end. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union speaking on behalf of the EU and its member states. I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis speaking on behalf of Carico. You have the floor ma'am.

Madam chair, I have the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of the 14 member states of the Caribbean community, Caricom. Caricom thanks the Secretary General for his report on the administration of justice at the United Nations, contained in documents A/81/176 and A/81/292. We commend the efforts being made to sustain and strengthen the internal justice system at a time of rising demand, institutional change, and liquidity constraints. We also take note of the reports of the Internal Justice Council in document A/81/161, and thank all components of the system for their continued work. For small and developing States, The credibility of the United Nations rests in part on whether the organization applies to its own personnel the standards of fairness and accountability that it promotes among its members. The internal justice system must therefore command the confidence of those it serves. It must be independent and impartial. provide fair and timely remedies consistent with due process, and remain accessible to personnel entitled to use its mechanisms, whether they serve and regardless of the working language. For those who devote their careers to this organization, these protections are not abstract. They are an important safeguard of fairness in the workplace. Madam Chair, The current reports make clear that the system is operating under considerable pressure. The United Nations Dispute Tribunal received 334 new cases in 2025, while its pending caseload rose to 223. The number of cases pending for more than 400 days also increased. Restructuring, liquidity constraints, and associated workforce changes have at the same time contributed to a sharp rise in requests for legal assistance. CARICOM is concerned by these trends. Delays of this kind undermine confidence in the system and must be addressed. Careful stewardship of resources and improved case management remain important. but they must not come at the expense of judicial independence, due process, or the quality of decisions. Within their respective mandates, the relevant bodies should continue to address vacancies, registry capacity constraints, and other cause of delay. We take note of the Internal Justice Council's recommendations concerning timely disposition early consideration of receivability, and the prompt issuance of final written judgments. Equally important is the timely and consistent implementation of final judgments. Compliance with binding decisions is fundamental to the credibility of any justice system. CARICOM also underscores the importance of adequate and predictable funding for the effective administration of justice. Through the established budgetary processes, the different components of the system should be provided with the resources necessary to discharge their mandates, manage caseloads, and deliver services in a timely manner. This is necessary not only for the functioning of the justice system, but also for sound management across the organization. Caricom values the work of the Management Advice and Evaluation Section and the Office of Staff Legal Assistance. The figures before us illustrate the importance of early intervention. In 2025, 86% of management evaluation requests did not proceed to the Dispute Tribunal. the Office of Staff Legal Assistance responded to 1,820 requests, with approximately 70% concluded without resort to the formal system. Early review can identify problems in administrative decisions and, where appropriate, allow them to be corrected before a dispute proceeds further. Timely and independent legal assistance also contributes to equality of arms. We encourage continued outreach so that personnel understand the procedures available to them, the applicable time limits, and the sources of assistance within the system. There is also value in ensuring that lessons from management evaluation and tribunal jurisprudence are reflected in administrative practice. Where patterns recur, the organization should be in a position to learn from them. Madam Chair, CARICOM supports the effective use of informal resolution where appropriate. We welcome the work of the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Service, which handled 2,201 cases in 2025. The office conducted 127 mediations, the highest number since 2020, with reported resolution rate of 87%. These figures demonstrate the practical value of early dialogue and mediation, particularly where they can help resolve disputes before positions become entrenched or working relationships deteriorate further. The early use of informal resolution should be encouraged where suitable, while participation must remain voluntary and must not prejudice access to the formal system. Managers should be equipped to identify and refer appropriate matters at every stage. We note in particular that 83% of cases arose in offices away from headquarters or in peace operations. The regional presence of the Ombudsman and mediation services is therefore not incidental. It is an important part of ensuring that personnel can access support where they serve. We also note the value of confidential informal services for non-staff personnel with the office's mandate. CARICOM welcomes continued efforts to improve multilingual access, including through interpretation, translated guidance, multilingual case summaries, and the United Nations Case Law Portal, which now contains more than 4,300 judgments. These tools can make the jurisprudence of the internal justice system easier to locate and understand. At the same time, digital tools must continue to be used with appropriate safeguards for accuracy, confidentiality, data protection, and human oversight. Madam Chair, a fair system of justice must also contribute to a safe and respectful workplace. Racism, racial discrimination, harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and retaliation have no place in the United Nations. Personnel must be able to raise concerns without fear and to obtain meaningful support and effective remedies when problems arise. We welcome work on voluntary, anonymized and aggregated data related to racial discrimination, with appropriate safeguards for privacy. The handling of misconduct-related matters should continue to be guided by appropriate safeguards, confidentiality and support for affected personnel. The report of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services identifies supervisory relationships as the largest category of cases and records an increase in matters concerning prohibited conduct. It also points to the effect that institutional change can have on trust and workplace relations if that change is not managed carefully. Communication with personnel should therefore be timely and clear. Managers require appropriate support. Mental health and psychosocial support should also remain part of that response. CARICOM remains committed to an internal justice system that commands the confidence of staff and management alike. We encourage continued cooperation among all components of the system while respecting their distinct mandates and the independence of the judiciary. We will continue to engage constructively in consideration of this agenda item and in efforts to strengthen the fairness, accessibility, and effectiveness of the internal justice system. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis, speaking on behalf of CARICOM. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada, speaking on behalf of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll commence my comments in English and finish in French. I have the honour today of speaking on behalf of the CANZ countries, being Australia, New Zealand, and my own country, Canada. Thank you to the Secretary-General, to the Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services, and to the Internal Justice Council for their insightful reports and for their ongoing work. These documents describe a system of administration of justice facing challenging circumstances, with ongoing financial and liquidity crises, growing needs, and a spike in cases that has strained resources across the system. CANS countries commend the Dispute Tribunal, Appeals Tribunal, Office of Administration of Justice, Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services, Office of Staff Legal Assistance, and other involved actors for what they have been able to accomplish in the past year in the face of these compounding challenges. The increased demand for justice services at the UN emphasizes the need to ensure access to support and to timely and fair decisions from institutions which are independent, transparent, impartial, professional, and attuned to the many working environments of UN staff, including field operations and mission environments. Processes and operations must be rooted in the key principles of the United Nations, including due process, accountability, and respect for the rule of law. That said, given the resource constraint context, more can be done upstream from the point of engagement with formal dispute resolution mechanisms and in that respect, CANS commends Ombudsman's renewal of its offering of skill-building activities. With a significant proportion of cases pertaining to supervisory relationships, a broader rollout of training on workplace dynamics in an international context, such as the Civility, Communication and Community workshop, can prevent disputes from occurring in the first place. so can improved institutional communications practices which centre staff dignity in times of change. Madam Chair, CANS Country strongly encourage the further development of the Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services' informal conflict resolution and mediation initiatives, building on its existing expertise and capacity. At a time of rising demand for justice services, Informal dispute resolution can provide more constructive and efficient outcomes while helping preserve the capacity of formal justice mechanisms for matters requiring adjudication. We also concur with the Council's recommendation number one to forego further consideration of establishing a judicial mediation mechanism. While the concept may merit future consideration, we agree that, in the current environment, scarce judicial resources are best directed toward the timely adjudication of cases. Efforts to expand mediation should therefore remain focused on the Office of the Ombudsman and mediation services, avoiding duplication and allowing the tribunals to concentrate on their core judicial functions and mandates.

The Cairns countries note the Secretary-General's efforts to ensure the system of administration of justice reflects the multilingual nature of the Organization and its workforce. Improving multilingual access to jurisprudence has the potential to enhance both the accessibility and efficiency of the internal justice system reducing barriers to information through the effective integration of technology, while supporting more timely engagement with available remedies. CANS countries note with concern the reported impacts of anonymization practices in the two tribunals, which counterintuitively appear to have the effect of protecting officials who are the subject of complaints, while leaving staff seeking relief more exposed. We welcome the Internal Justice Council's intention to conduct a review of those practices. Madam Chair, the people who support the work of the United Nations who work with and for its many organs, bodies, agencies and specialized programs are at the heart of the system. Importantly, they ensure the UN can deliver and respond to the needs of the people it serves. CANS countries thank them for their dedication, and we recognize that a fair, effective, and trusted system of administration of justice is key to supporting them in doing their best work. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada, speaking on behalf of CANS. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Thank you, Chair. Chair, China welcomes the Secretary-General's reports on administration of justice at the UN, A/81/176, and on activities of the Office of the UN Ombudsman and mediation services, A/80/135, as well as the report of the Internal Justice Council on administration of justice at the UN, A/81/161. China has consistently supported the establishment of an independent, transparent, professional, and efficient system of administration of justice within the UN, and it commands that the achievements by the UN system administration of justice over the past year, as well as efforts by the Secretary General to enhance the efficiency of the system of administration of justice. China wishes to make the following further recommendations. First, adopt a problem-oriented approach and continue to improve the efficiency of case handling. China notes that under the UN 80 initiative, the number of cases continues to rise. And addressing issues such as the backlog of cases and the lengthy proceedings is a matter of urgency. China supports enhancing the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of UN justice, further optimizing case management workloads, improving case tracking and statistical mechanisms, and rationally allocating judicial resources, including the use of new technologies to enhance the efficiency of the judicial system. Second, we should prioritize mediation and make full use of informal dispute resolution mechanisms. Informal dispute resolution plays a vital role in resolving conflicts, settling disputes, and avoiding litigation. China recognizes the efforts by the Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services to strengthen institutional resilience and mitigate the negative impact of the liquidity crisis on staff. We support the Office in continuing to enhance the staff understanding of mediation procedures and in cooperating with other UN systems to promote the full utilization of informal dispute resolution mechanisms. Third, Address both the symptoms and the root causes. Prevent and resolve issues at the source. China knows that the applications received by justice system reflect certain trends and issues, including the categories of the work and entities where disputes frequently arise. We recommend Thoroughly analyzing the causes of high incidence issue, strengthening governance at source, reinforcing accountability mechanisms, and effectively safeguarding the chip and the rights interests of staff to nip potential disputes in the bud and resolve them before they arise, Chair. In the elections for the UN Appeals Tribunal held last November, Judge Zhang Lingling from China was elected by a large majority as a judge of the Appeals Tribunal and has officially taken up her duties this year. In July, Judge Sun Xiangchuan from China was elected president of the UN Dispute Tribunal. The participation of Chinese judges has strengthened the geographical representation and linguistic diversity of the UN system administration of justice and will help to resolve internal disputes within the UN efficiently. We are confident that the two Chinese judges will live up to the trust and high expectations of all parties, continue to perform their duties in accordance with the law, work diligently and actively contribute to the smooth functioning of the UN. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of China for his statement. I now wish to give the floor to the distinguished representative of United States of America. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The United States thanks the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services and the Internal Justice Council for the reports on their work in 2025. We also thank the Secretary-General for his report on the administration of justice at the United Nations. The past year brought with it new challenges in this space. As the organization adjusts to financial realities and carries out the UN80 initiative, new dispute tribunal cases rose by 66% and pending cases nearly doubled. Reform is necessary, and it must be carried out in line with the organization's regulatory framework. Decisions should be clear, consistent, and well explained so that they do not produce avoidable disputes. We welcome the Secretariat's efforts to apply the downsizing framework consistently and to reduce litigation risk through clear guidance and phased implementation. Informal resolution continues to be the most efficient path in many instances. We applaud the work of the Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services, which in 2025 handled more than 2,200 cases, increased mediation by more than one third, and resolved 87% of those mediations. The Management Advice and Evaluation section also played an important role. by helping to resolve issues so that they did not need to proceed to the Dispute Tribunal. Likewise, the Office of Staff Legal Assistance continued to provide valuable services to resolve matters without the need for more formal proceedings, while its workload more than doubled. These results delivered by the informal system save staff time and save the organization money. For that reason, The United States supports the Internal Justice Council's recommendation that no further consideration need be given to a judicial mediation mechanism, even as a pilot. Existing mediation mechanisms already serve this purpose and offer a better return on resources. We encourage dispute tribunal judges to refer suitable cases to mediation. And we also encourage heads of entities to empower managers to settle disputes at every stage. Madam Chair, timeliness remains essential. We note with concern that cases pending more than 400 days quadrupled in 2025 and rose again in 2026. Justice delayed is unfair to staff and costly for the organization. We support the Internal Justice Council's recommendations that both tribunals decide receivability and deliver judgments promptly. We look forward to the Council's study of how to manage cases involving similarly situated staff more efficiently while respecting the independence of the tribunals. Credibility and accountability depend on the quality and the conduct of judges. We welcome the nine newly appointed judges and the expanded induction program. We support the Internal Justice Council's review of the codes of conduct for judges and legal representatives. Finally, Madam Chair, the United States notes with appreciation that earlier this year the Appeals Tribunal issued a judgment on interlocutory appeal, modifying certain case management orders that did not reflect a victim-centered approach. We are concerned that such case management orders could have the effect of chilling complaints regarding sexual exploitation and abuse. Protecting the rights of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse is paramount. The United States supports the work of the Internal Justice Council in exploring how consideration of victims' rights can be incorporated into the procedures and practices of the tribunals. We also encourage tribunal judges to re-familiarize themselves with relevant mandates and procedures and to continue to receive briefings from the UN Victims' Rights Advocate. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States of America for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. You have the floor, ma'am.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union on behalf of the EU and its member states. We start by thanking the Secretary-General for his report on the administration of justice at the United Nations and on the activities of the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services. We also thank the Internal Justice Council for its report. The Kingdom of the Netherlands highlights the following two elements.

First.

On the report of the Secretary-General on the administration of justice at the United Nations, the Kingdom of the Netherlands notes a significant increase in the use of the formal system. The number of management evaluation requests increased to 815 in 2025. As the overwhelming majority of cases did not proceed to the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, this underlines the important role of management evaluation in providing resolution to staff members. 334 cases were filed with the UNDT in 2025, compared to 201 cases in 2024, another significant increase. While we note the increase in the number of applications disposed of by the UNDT, the overall number of pending cases has increased, including the number of cases pending for more than 400 days. The UN Appeals Tribunal received and disposed of an increased number of cases as well, with a more significant increase in received cases. the number of pending cases before the UNAT also increased. Madam Chair, the Kingdom of the Netherlands notes that the response to the trend analysis and assessment on the functioning of the system in the light of the UNAT initiative states: "It is too early to report on the full impact of the UNAT initiative.

On the functioning of the system of administration of justice as a whole." Nevertheless.

It emerges from the reports that change processes within the UN, including the UN80 initiative, have contributed to an increased workload before a system facing strained resources. Second. The services offered by the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services provide a safe, accessible and cost-effective way for staff members and affiliate personnel to discuss any kind of workplace-related concern. The reporting of the Office on broad systemic issues provides valuable insights. The Kingdom of the Netherlands notes with appreciation the work of this Office, including the work of the regional ombudsman offices. We commend in particular the Office's ongoing efforts to promote and advance the informal first approach. Of the total number of 2,201 cases handled by the Office in 2025, 127 were mediation cases. This is around 5.7% of cases, compared to around 4.6% last year. Noting this increase, the Kingdom of the Netherlands recalls resolution 79/254, which underlines the importance of increasing the use of mediation services and encourages the Office to continue to share information about mediation and to promote mediation. We appreciate and highly value that affiliate personnel can access the office's services within existing resources and note the increase in cases received from affiliate personnel. While we note the staffing limitations as a result of which the Office did not undertake proactive outreach to affiliate personnel, we wish to underline the importance of continued attention to access to and use of the informal system by affiliate personnel. In conclusion, the Kingdom of the Netherlands emphasizes the importance of a strong, efficient and professionalized internal system of administration of justice within the UN, at the UN, which can be accessed by staff and affiliate personnel. The Kingdom of the Netherlands continues to follow developments with great interest and looks forward to further improvements being made. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Philippines thanks the Secretary-General for the reports on the administration of justice at the United Nations and on the activities of the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services. We likewise express appreciation to the Internal Justice Council under the chairmanship of Justice Madan B. Lokur for its report and to the Secretariat for the presentations and continued support for the administration of justice system. We take note of the findings and recommendations contained in these reports, which provide a useful assessment of the function of the United Nations International Justice System at a time of significant institutional and financial challenges. Madam Chair, the Philippines attaches particular importance to the administration of justice as an essential expression of the rule of law within the United Nations itself. As we have consistently emphasized in this committee, the rule of law is not merely a principle that the United Nations promotes among member states. It is equally a standard that must guide the organization's own conduct institutions and administrative processes. The credibility of the United Nations in advancing justice and accountability internationally is strengthened when these same principles are faithfully observed within the organization. In this regard, allow me to highlight five points. First, access to justice must remain effective, fair and meaningful. reaffirm our support for an independent, transparent, professional and adequately resourced system of administration of justice, consistent with the framework established by the General Assembly. The significant increase in cases before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, including the growing number of pending cases, warrants attention. Justice must not only be available in principle, but also accessible in practice and delivered within a reasonable time. Procedural fairness Equality of treatment and access to effective remedies are fundamental safeguards that should not be diminished by administrative or financial constraints. Second, we recognize the important contribution of informal dispute resolution. We welcome the work of the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services, including its effort to promote the informal first approach. The reported increase in the use of mediation together with this high resolution rate, demonstrates the value of constructive dialogue and consensual approaches in resolving workplace disputes. The Philippines has consistently supported peaceful settlement of disputes and the constructive use of dialogue and mediation. These principles are equally relevant to the internal administration of justice. We therefore see merit in strengthening existing mediation mechanisms, promoting their accessibility and encouraging their use at appropriate stages of dispute resolution without prejudice to the right of personnel to pursue formal remedies. We also take note of the Internal Justice Council's recommendation to prioritize existing professional mediation services rather than establish a separate judicial mediation mechanism. Third, accountability and judicial independence must remain mutually reinforcing. The independence and impartiality of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal are indispensable to confidence in the international justice system. At the same time, independence must be accompanied by appropriate standards of justice, conduct, transparency, efficiency, and institutional accountability. We welcome the International Justice Council's continued examination of judicial conduct, case management, and timely delivery of judgments. In this connection, we emphasize that accountability should extend to the fair treatment of all parties, including appropriate protection for victims, witnesses, and individuals seeking redress. Fourth, institutional reform must remain consistent with the rule of law. We recognize the financial and operational challenges confronting the United Nations, including those arising in the context of the UN80 initiative. Efforts to improve efficiency, rationalize resources, and strengthen institutional effectiveness are important. However, they should be implemented in a manner consistent with established legal safeguards, due process, and the right of personnel. In particular, restructuring and organizational change should not result in diminished access to justice or undermine the capacity of the relevant mechanisms to discharge their mandates. A credible and effective international justice system is not an obstacle to institutional reform. It is an essential safeguard for ensuring that reform is conducted fairly, transparently, and responsibly. Fifth, the administration of justice must be attentive to dignity, equality, and protection against discrimination and retaliation. We welcome continued efforts to address workplace discrimination, harassment, abuse of authority, and retaliation against those who report misconduct. These concerns are integral to the organization's commitment to human dignity and accountability. We also recognize the importance of victim-centered approach while respecting due process and the rights of all parties concerned. Finally, Chair, the Philippines believes that an effective system of administration of justice contributes not only to the protection of individual rights, but also to the integrity, credibility, and effectiveness of the United Nations as an institution. We encourage continued cooperation among the Secretariat, the International Justice Council, the tribunals, the Ombudsman, and mediation services, and other relevant stakeholders in strengthening the system. As the organization undertakes important reforms, it must continue to demonstrate through its own practices the principle of fairness, justice, and accountability that it seeks to advance throughout the international community. The Philippines remains committed to supporting these efforts. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Philippines for his statement. Distinguished delegates, the distinguished representative of Philippines was the last speaker on my list for this agenda item this morning. We will continue our debate on agenda item 150, administration of justice at the United Nations, at our meeting this afternoon, after which we will turn to agenda item 82, consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security, and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives. Before adjourning, I wish to remind delegations that informal consultations on agenda item 84, the rule of law at the national and international levels, will take place during the lunch break today 15 to 2:00 p.m. in this room. The informal consultations on agenda item 83, report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, initially scheduled for today, will no longer be held. The meeting is adjourned.