Mr. Chair,

1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 150: Administrative and Budgetary Aspects of the Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Overview and Cross-cutting issues.

2. The Group appreciates the Secretariat and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for their efforts towards the timely submission of respective reports for consideration.

3. The Group also wishes to express its appreciation for the report of the Board of Auditors (BoA), the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), and Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) in this context.

Mr. Chair,

4. Peacekeeping missions continue to be one of the most effective multilateral tools to prevent the outbreak or recurrence of violence in various parts of the world. These missions often operate in dangerous circumstances with high-risk locations and face a variety of challenges, including broad mandates, complex political and security situations, and threats directed at UN personnel, while incidences of transnational crimes across regions continue to threaten stability in some host nations. Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19 pandemic, peacekeeping operations continue to evolve and find innovative and proactive ways to implement their mandates in the most optimal manner.

Mr. Chair,

5. Unfortunately the General Assembly has been unable to provide the Secretariat and the missions with a cross-cutting resolution since its 70th session. The Group strongly believes that this resolution would be of the utmost importance and we will put our best efforts in attaining consensus on the issues related thereto.

6. The Group reaffirms its strong commitment to the United Nations’ zero tolerance approach towards sexual exploitation and abuse. We call for strengthening efforts towards ensuring that the United Nations will not remain silent or passive in the face of reported incidents as well as protecting and supporting victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse through adopting a victim-centered approach.

7. The Group looks forward to examining progress towards adopting a more unified and robust system-wide approach to SEA. Our Group underscores the importance of examining efforts undertaken to strengthen accountability with regards to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

8. The Group notes the progress made towards the implementation of Comprehensive Planning and Performance Assessment System to the remaining peacekeeping missions and looks forward to receiving further updates in this regard.

Mr. Chair,

9. The Group welcomes the increased use of digital technologies for improvement in safety and security of Mission personnel as well as mandate delivery and efficient output of the mission. We also believe that authentic information is central for effective responses to mitigate the effects of daily challenges faced by these operations and welcome the improvement of peacekeeping data standards that can help enhance analysis and reporting capabilities.

10. We recall the Group’s longstanding position that performance in peacekeeping operations is a collective effort that involves the participation of all Member States and the Secretariat, besides all civilians as well as uniformed components of missions. Any attempt to utilize performance assessment as a basis for furthering arbitrary cuts on peacekeeping budgets is likely to undermine mandate implementation and may even erode the positive effects of progress made earlier.

11. On the issue of representation, the Group recalls resolution 72/262C where the Secretary-General was asked to intensify his efforts to ensure proper representation of troop and police contributing countries in the relevant new departments. In this respect, the Group would like to understand the application of specific programmes, initiatives and relevant aspects of senior managers’ compacts in addressing this historical deficit, particularly for TCCs/PCCs of developing countries who have made unquantifiable contributions and sacrifices to UN peacekeeping efforts which continue to this day.

Mr. Chair,

12. The provision of adequate healthcare to those who risk their safety for the implementation of mandates is important. We acknowledge the endeavours to build capacities of medical facilities catering to the health and safety of Peacekeepers across Missions.

13. The Group welcomes initiatives that have the scope of improving the safety and security of peacekeepers which is one of the prime considerations of this committee. The Secretariat’s action plan on safety and security of peacekeepers has proved during its three years of operations that it has the potential to decrease fatalities resulting from acts of violence against them. We reiterate that the relevant resolutions and decisions of the Security Council and the General Assembly must be fully implemented. We underscore the importance of avoiding casualties and we will continue to analyze and support proposals with this aim.

Mr. Chair,

14. The Group of 77 and China will carefully consider the cross-cutting budget performance and proposed budget of peacekeeping operations, in view of the fact that mandates must be adequately funded. We reiterate the importance of responsible implementation by the Secretariat through financial discipline and adherence to delivery of mandates laid down in relevant resolutions. The only logical way to cure the perennially difficult financial situation that impacts peacekeeping operations is to ensure that all Member States pay their assessed contributions in full, on time, and without any conditions.

15. The group stands ready to engage constructively with all member states with a view to concluding this agenda item successfully in a timely manner.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.