UN General Assembly adopts landmark resolution to strengthen the work of the UN system

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).

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