UN80: Workstream 2: Informal Ad Hoc Working Group: General Assembly Adoption
Statement by H.E Mr. James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
31 March 2026
President of the General Assembly, Secretary-General,
Excellencies, colleagues,
CANZ welcomes today’s adoption of this resolution on Mandate Creation, Implementation and Review for an Efficient and Effective United Nations.
The text represents a comprehensive and carefully balanced package of reforms across the mandate lifecycle – reforms which have the potential to achieve transformative outcomes for the entire UN system.
Adoption is a major outcome of UN80 Workstream 2, and a significant milestone for the UN80 Reform Initiative more broadly.
We acknowledge the presence of the Secretary-General today and look forward to working closely with the Secretariat and Member States to achieve similarly strong outcomes.
Throughout the mandate reform process, it has been clear that an overwhelming majority of Member States support mandates that are more impactful, coherent, and efficient.
Member States want better delivery, less duplication, and more efficient use of resources.
This resolution reflects those shared objectives and consolidates the important gains achieved through months of dialogue.
It also recognises the substantial effort invested by the Jamaican and New Zealand co‑chairs and fellow delegations to reach consensus – delivering a text that both improves mandate creation, implementation and review, and fully respects Member State prerogatives.
CANZ sincerely thanks the co-chairs for your balanced and inclusive leadership.
Looking ahead, CANZ emphasises that this resolution must be fully implemented, to realise its benefits.
CANZ strongly urges Member States to maintain the impressive momentum, ambition and collective resolve built over the past six months and apply it decisively to implementing this resolution.
CANZ is committed to doing so, and will continue to be a positive and constructive voice pushing for bold actions to strengthen the UN’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Thank you.