UN80: Workstream 2: Informal Ad Hoc Working Group: Consultation: Mandate Creation
Statement by H.E. Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
23 October 2025
Thank you chairs for creating the opportunity for inclusive and collaborative consultations on Mandate Creation, and the informative briefing organised last week.
I am pleased speak (again) on behalf of Canada, New Zealand, and my own delegation, Australia.
As Members States, we are committed to the UN Charter and upholding the fundamental work of the United Nations system.
We welcome this opportunity to reflect on how Member States create mandates and the impact this has on the effectiveness of the United Nations’ critical work.
CANZ highlights the following points to be considered as we focus on principles and actions to guide mandate creation.
We need shorter, more focused resolutions with clearer and more targeted mandates. This will both increase the likelihood that mandates will be actively and effectively implemented and reduce current workloads. While we need to be clear in what we are asking for, we see merit in providing the Secretariat with some flexibility on exactly how they deliver on these mandates, to ensure they can do so in the most efficient and effective way possible.
We need more support from the Secretariat to empower Member States to make more informed decisions when drafting resolutions, to ensure that mandates avoid duplication and effectively complement relevant work taking place across the UN system.
We welcome tools, such as the comprehensive online mandate registry being developed, by the Secretariat that can support this, including assisting the lead sponsors of resolutions to draft better mandates. There are other tools that could be provided to support mandate design, such as those which institute more effective and efficient drafting.
We need mandates with built in evaluation and review clauses and, where appropriate, sunset clauses. And we need to reduce the number of resolutions introduced year after year with substantially the same content. We all have an interest in not spending precious time and resources on resolutions that have stopped having any real meaning or relevance.
We must exercise discipline and restraint in making proposals that have resource implications for the UN’s core budget, particularly in the current financial context. If new resources are required to implement a new proposal, appropriate offsets should also be identified. All resolutions should include a dedicated section clearly addressing these issues.
Key to this effort is the need to better link mandate decisions with projected costs and enhance efficiencies in implementation.
Member States must demonstrate maximum restraint in proposing new mandates, and a sustained commitment to ensuring limited resources are directed where they are most needed.
We should also ensure synergies with existing processes related to mandates and take the opportunity to implement and advance work conducted under the GA revitalization process.
Sometimes overlaps between mandates can be helpful in supporting strong implementation, but often we experience wasteful duplication. We need to eliminate unnecessary duplication of similar mandates within and across various forums.
Finally, while it is appropriate that this ad hoc working group focus on the principles guiding mandate creation, implementation, and review, we also need to reach agreement on the actions required to apply these principles in practice.
CANZ proposes the following concrete actions for Member States:
First, include time-bound provisions or mandate review clauses in new resolutions as appropriate.
Second, take steps to reduce unnecessary PBIs or establishment of new, costly mandates, without identifying appropriate offsets.
Third, ensure new mandates are linked to the core pillars of the UN and advance tangible outcomes.
Fourth, set and adhere to page limits for new resolutions and ensure these are targeted for maximum effect.
Fifth, avoid the duplication of mandates within and across forums.
Sixth, promote multiannual mandates as the default for recurring resolutions which do not substantively change from year to year.
Finally, Review mandates that have not been active within the past ten years.
These actions could be reflected in a new template or guidance for the drafting of resolutions.
As we have stated previously, the primary responsibility for achieving a UN system capable of delivering on the outcomes our people expect and deserve lies with us, the Member States.
We look forward to engaging further with Member States through the working group, towards an effective reform process that results in a resilient and sustainable UN system able to deliver effectively on all three foundational pillars of its work into the future.