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STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE G77AND CHINA BY MS. KAREN LOCK PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

ON AGENDA ITEM l2lz REWEII/ OF EFFICIENCY OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL FUNCTIONING OF THE UNITED NATIONS FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE E GENERAL ASSEMBLY New York, 6 March 20A6 Mr. Chairman, I have the honour to speakon behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agendaitem 122: Review of efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the united Nations' In this context, the Group wishes to make a few comments on the Note of the secretary-General on "strengthening the investigation functions in the united Nations,, (N60t674). Mr. Chairman, During the 59th and main part of the 60'h session, the Fifth committee has considered and approved several measures aimed at strengthening the investigation functions in the united Nations, as well as ensuring that staff are held accountablefor misconductand any wrongdoings. To this end, the deneral Assembly adoptedresolution 591287that set out the roles and responsibilities of the office of Human Resources Management, prografirme managers and the office of International oversight services (olos) in conducting investigations and reporting findings to the appropriate structures in the secretariat and to the Gineral Assem6ly. It-was also again emphasizedthat oIoS has been entrusted with investigations in the United Nations. rne rith Committee, furthermore,has approved measuresto prevent and addressallegations of sexual abuse and exploitation and in General Assemtly resolu tion 59/296,rJquested the secretaryGeneralto develop a comprehensivepolicy on this matter, irr.tuoing on the undertaking of investigations. The Fifth committee also established the Ethics office, approved the "whistleblower" policy and increased the capacity of the olos i' auditing and investigations' Irl this context, Member States also reached consensus on the responsibilities, reporting requirements, training requirements and the comprehensive follow-up review to be undertakenon the Ethics 6mrl, urratrr. outcome of which will be submitted to the General Assembly at its 62"dsesriorr. Member States further reached consensuson the focus of the comprehensivegovernance review and the necessity of submitting the independent extemal evaluation or audit and investigatory system to the General Assembly before the comprehensivegovernance review. The Group would appreciate if the secretariatcould inform the committee it of the stepsthat it has taken to ensureadherenceto the consensusagreements reachedby Member Statesand officiallv

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of the Committee in conveyed to the president of the Assembly by the Chairman documentN60l6ll. on the status of The Group of 77 andChina would appreciatefurther elaboration prompt reporting to the the interim procedures and protocols that ar!-intended to ensure paragraph3 of the Note, as well OI9S of casesarising in fieid missions, as referred to in 4. we also note that the as on the development of the databasementioned in parugraph to the Fifth committee on Secretary-c"rr"t"i i" irt" 61't sessionwill submit a full report various measuresthat Member the implementation of resolution 591287. In view of the to ensurethat the report covers Stateshave approved in the past years, it would be useful functions of activities that are intended to strengthen investigation the entir" ,p.rt** in accordance with General and enhance accountability, including those undertaken Member States receive a Assembly resolution 5gl2g7. ThG wiil ensure that of the broader accountability comprehensiveassessmentof how the various components at all levels and irrespective framework are working together towards ensuring ihut staff in accordancewith the of their nationality arJ held accountable for *y *tongdoings, principles ofjustice' rules and regulations of the united Nations, due processand I thank you, Mr. Chainnan.

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