GENERAL ASSEMBLY BRIEFING BY MR. GUY RYDER, UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLICY, ON THE UN80 INITIATIVE ACTION PLAN
Statement by H.E Mr.James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
21 November 2025
Thank you very much indeed, President and let me take this opportunity to thank the Under-Secretary-General Ryder for your paitent and generous shepherding us through this process - it's been a long and challenging journey I know.
Of course, I speak on behalf of Canada, New Zealand, and my own delegation, Australia.
CANZ welcomes the system-wide coordination and transparency provided by the UN80 Initiative Action Plan.
We welcome the enhanced transparency and accountability provided by clarifying who is responsible for which UN80 reform action between now and the end of 2026.
The Action Plan will be an important accountability tool for Member States and stakeholders to track what is to be achieved over the next 14 months.
We look forward to further information in the coming weeks on the specific timelines envisaged for taking these actions forward.
We wish to make five points on the Action Plan:
First, we continue to urge the Secretary-General as Chief Administrative Officer, along with the UN leadership, to take all measures within their authority to implement reform proposals and ensure demonstrable progress before the end of his mandate.
In this regard, we are pleased to see the actions under Workstream Two that fall within the Secretary-General’s existing authorities included in the Action Plan.
Second, we encourage the UN80 Taskforce to update Member States regularly and in the most efficient way possible.
We suggest consideration of an online tracker to complement regular oral briefings on key developments in the reform process.
Third, as we take these reforms forward, it is vital that the UN remains inclusive of all member states, regardless of their size or location.
Given the particular importance of the reforms relating to the UN’s regional and country-level presence, we encourage broad and proactive outreach with all affected regions and member states, including the most vulnerable, to ensure that the new models proposed work for all.
Fourth, we emphasise the need for clarification on what decisions by Member States, UN governing bodies, or the Secretary-General will be required to implement actions in Workstream Three and when these will be shared with Member States.
Finally, while process and tools guide and inform reform efforts, they are not the goal or an end in and of themselves:
we need action and outcomes, working toward a clear vision.
In implementing the Action Plan, we encourage the Secretary-General to convey his vision for the future of the organisation.
CANZ calls for bold, decisive reform to build a UN that is modern, agile, and fit for purpose - one that upholds international law and norms, drives global cooperation on shared challenges, and delivers essential services on the ground for those who need them most.
The time for process is over; the time for action is now.
Thank you.