Thirty-two years ago, Rwanda endured one of the darkest chapters in human history. In just 100 days, more than a million people were murdered – primarily Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide. Entire families were brutally erased.On the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, we mourn the victims and honour their stolen dignity. We pay tribute to the survivors, whose resilience shows the strength of the human spirit. And we recall, with humility and shame, the international community’s failure to heed warnings and take immediate lifesaving action.It’s not enough to remember the dead. We must learn from past failures and protect the living – by rejecting hatred, inflammatory rhetoric and incitement to violence; by investing in the social fabric to deepen community resilience; and by strengthening institutions that help prevent mass atrocities. I call on all countries to become parties to the Genocide Convention without delay – and to implement it fully.The United Nations stands with the people of Rwanda. And we stand with all those, everywhere, who refuse to surrender our future to fear, division, or silence. Let this day reaffirm our commitment to remember, to listen, and to act. With history as our guide, and the prevention of genocide as our goal.[END]

Landmines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices exact a devastating toll on civilians, especially children. As conflicts multiply and military spending skyrockets, these dangers are deepening.These weapons do not disappear when the fighting is over. They lurk in fields in Colombia, Ethiopia, Lebanon and Myanmar; amid the rubble in Gaza; and in communities across Syria. They kill thousands each year and injure a great many more – often long after conflict ends.Mine action plays a critical role in places where peace is fragile, the humanitarian response urgent, and development precarious. It allows the UN and its partners to work in greater safety and enables ravaged communities to recover and rebuild.On this International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, I call on all Member States to join and adhere to the relevant instruments – including the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention – and urge those that have withdrawn to rejoin. Failing to preserve these vital instruments will only weaken civilian protections and add to the 100 million innocent lives already in peril.This year’s theme – “Invest in peace, Invest in mine action” – highlights the need to accelerate mine clearance, enhance risk education, expand victim assistance, reduce weapons stockpiles and advocate for a mine-free world.We must eradicate the threat posed by these weapons – so all people everywhere can live in safety and with hope.[END]

The General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a much-anticipated resolution formally launching a process to review the backlog of thousands of existing UN mandates, while setting out guidelines for the more streamlined, concise and data-driven creation of new ones in the future.By a vote of 168 in favour to 4 against (Belarus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Russian Federation), with no abstentians, the 193-member organ adopted a resolution titled “Mandate creation, implementation and review for an efficient and effective United Nations”, contained in the report of the informal ad hoc working group on mandate implementation review (document A/80/676).The ad hoc working group, established by General Assembly decision 79/571, met from September 2025 to March 2026.  Its purpose was to identify principles and follow-up actions to improve the creation, delivery and review of UN mandates — which are specific tasks and deliverables requested of the Organization by Member States.Against the backdrop of serious budgetary and fiscal constraints, some Member States have repeatedly expressed concern that many existing UN mandates are duplicative, onerous or their objectives are not sufficiently defined.By the terms of the resolution adopted today, the Assembly agreed on a set of principles to govern the creation, implementation and review of all UN mandates.

Among others, those included respect for the diverse nature of mandates and their contexts; respect for balance across the three core UN pillars; commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness; and the use of evidence-based decision-making throughout the “mandate life cycle”.

By other terms of the text, it agreed to specific terms governing the creation, implementation and review of UN mandates — including the steps that proponents of any proposed new mandate must take to justify it — and committed to drafting and adopting “clearer and more concise mandates” with streamlined language and well-defined scopes and objectives.In addition, the Assembly laid out a proposed timeline for the collective review of UN mandates, with the aim of receiving the Secretary-General’s review of “inactive, duplicative or fully implemented mandates” by the end of March 2027.
‘Major Step’ in Mandate Reform, But ‘Real Test Lies Ahead’
 “The resolution adopted today reflects a shared understanding of the full mandate lifecycle and a shared commitment to strengthen each step of it,” said Secretary-General António Guterres, congratulating the Assembly on its “historic resolution”.The mandate review and reform process will not only ease the burden on Member States who face an overwhelming volume of reports and meetings, but will help avoid duplication, fragmentation and inefficiency.  “It brings greater discipline, coherence and transparency to the creation of mandates.”Noting that mandate review will encourage mandates that are clearer, sharper and more focused — backed by better information for decision-making from the outset — he said it will also reinforce a culture of continuous improvement, grounded in evidence, accountability and results.“This is a major step,” he said.  “But it is only the beginning.”General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock (Germany) agreed, declaring: “The real test lies in what comes next.” A far greater task lies ahead — addressing the backlog of thousands of existing UN mandates.  Noting that she will soon appoint two co-Chairs to lead the newly formalized working group on mandate implementation review, she said their work will help deliver practical tools to guide the creation of new mandates while also reviewing the existing stock of thousands of others.She expressed hope that the year-long effort will result in a simplified and more coherent mandate lifecycle, which both redirects resources to where they are best placed and alleviates Member States’ capacity constraints.Many delegations also took the floor to explain their positions. Delegates Hail ‘Finely Balanced’ Text, Urge Effective Implementation“The text may not be perfect for every Member State, but it does reflect a delicate balance,” said the representative of Zambia.  In particular, he joined several other small delegations in welcoming its aim of streamlining the UN’s work and easing burdens on countries that face resource constraints.The representative of the Solomon Islands, speaking for the Pacific Islands Forum, agreed that “for a small delegation like ours”, every extra report, negotiation and overlapping mandate has a significant impact.  Today’s resolution “gives us a real chance” to make the UN more effective, efficient and accountable, she said.“We are all committed to real change for the [United Nations],” said Norway’s delegate, spotlighting the “overwhelming” majority of Member States that voted in favour of the resolution.  Member States must now “show this in how we act” when proposing new mandates by ensuring that they are well-defined and have clear timelines for review.The representative of Jamaica, one of the two co-Chairs of the ad hoc working group alongside New Zealand, described today’s resolution as a “finely balanced text”.  The process was inclusive, innovative and effective.  “We believe the text reflects the best possible effort to achieve consensus,” he said, voicing regret that today’s adoption did not garner consensus among all delegations.  “With this outcome, the United Nations has signaled that it can, and it will, do better.”The representative of Trinidad and Tobago, speaking for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), welcomed that the resolution “provides a sound basis for the work ahead”. At a time when “questions of institutional effectiveness are at the centre of our collective agenda”, he said the mandate review process reflects the active role that Member States can, and should, play in strengthening the Organization at this critical juncture.“Member States want better delivery, less duplication and more efficient use of resources,” said the representative of Australia, also speaking for Canada and New Zealand.  Welcoming today’s adoption, he said the text reflects these shared objectives and urged Member States to apply the “impressive momentum, ambition and collective resolve built over the past six months” to fully implement it.Concerns of Developing Countries Must Be Addressed“Any reform under UN80 must contribute to strengthening the credibility of the [UN] and enhance its impact for people on the ground,” said Uruguay’s delegate, welcoming the resolution and noting that her delegation voted in favour. However, she would have preferred a more inclusive, “line-by-line” approach to the working group’s proceedings and underscored the need to respect the diversity of mandates and balance of work across the UN’s three core pillars.The representatives of Bahrain, speaking on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, echoed the need for a more Member State-driven process while welcoming the adoption.The representative of China called on Member States to “stay true to the original aspirations of the reform” — making the UN more efficient and revitalizing its authority. He also underlined the need to address the concerns of developing countries — two thirds of Member States — adding:  “Sustainable development is their top priority.”The representative of Pakistan noted that, while the resolution did not fully address all of his delegation’s concerns related to the diversity of mandates, the co-Chairs undertook serious efforts to resolve outstanding concerns.  The ad hoc working group’s shortcomings are a result of its “hasty” creation and its “unrealistic timeframe”, he said, which did not allow for the full, substantive engagement of all Member States.Echoing that point, the representative of Nicaragua said his delegation voted against the resolution because of its “pressured pace”, which did not allow proper time for consultations.  The text provides the Secretariat with “disproportionate” flexibility in the review and evaluation of existing mandates, he added, stressing that mandate decisions are “the exclusive prerogative of Member States”.At the meeting’s outset, the representative of the Russian Federation took the floor to express his delegation’s dissatisfaction with the work of the informal ad hoc working group, and to request today’s recorded vote. His delegation, along with many others, would have preferred more diplomacy on such a “sensitive topic”, he stressed.In other business today, the Assembly concluded its consideration of the agenda item titled “Commemoration of the abolition of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade” (see Press Release GA/12755).[END]

I could boil down my message today to one word: Congratulations.

Congratulations on the adoption of this historic resolution.

One year ago, we launched the UN80 initiative – which included a recognition of the central role of the work of Member States in examining how mandates are created, implemented, and reviewed.

We knew this was essential.
Not only to ease the burden on Member States who face an overwhelming volume of reports and meetings.

But also to help the Secretariat avoid duplication, fragmentation and inefficiency.

The Informal Ad Hoc Working Group – under the outstanding leadership of Ambassadors Schwalger and Wallace – has now provided the way forward.

I thank the Co-Chairs for guiding this process with clarity, skill and dedication.

The resolution adopted today reflects a shared understanding of the full mandate lifecycle – and a shared commitment to strengthen each step of it.

It brings greater discipline, coherence and transparency to the creation of mandates.

It encourages mandates that are clearer, sharper, and more focused – backed by better information for decision-making from the outset.

It strengthens implementation – with more user-oriented and data-driven reporting, better coordination, and a more effective use of resources.

And it reinforces a culture of continuous improvement – grounded in evidence, accountability and results.

This is a major step. But it is only the beginning.

I have taken careful note of the requests addressed to the UN system.

We will deliver on them.

We will work as a single, coherent Organization – guided by the Working Group – to improve how mandates are supported and implemented.

The Department for General Assembly and Conference Management will establish a single point of contact for delegations – a clear entry point for questions on drafting and process, and a mechanism to channel inquiries to relevant parts of the system.

The Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance will provide enhanced information on the cost of commonly mandated activities, as well as earlier indications of the financial implications of new mandates.

My Executive Office will help coordinate the assignment of implementation responsibilities among Secretariat entities and across the UN system, according to comparative and collaborative advantage.

We will strengthen results-based approaches, consolidate tools that bring together information on mandates, resources, and results – and provide more tailored and user-friendly reporting formats.

And we will continue to develop the mandate registry and other digital transparency tools.

You have also recognized an important truth: even when budgets are tight and funds are scarce, some improvements require targeted investment.

We will use any such investment with maximum efficiency and full accountability.

Madame President,

Excellencies,

Once again, you have my profound admiration and gratitude.

Today’s resolution helps translate the ambition of the UN80 Initiative into concrete, practical action.

Thank you for establishing a critical building block for a 21st century United Nations system that is more effective, more accountable, and better equipped to deliver results in our churning and changing world.

Thank you.
 [END]