A/67/PV.75 General Assembly

I should like, in keeping with established practice, to draw the attention of the General Assembly to document A/67/693/Add.11, in which the Secretary-General informs the President of the General Assembly that, since the issuance of his communication contained in document A/67/693/Add.10, Zimbabwe has made the payment necessary to reduce its arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the United Nations Charter. May I take it that the General Assembly takes due note of the information contained in this document?

I now draw the attention of the General Assembly to draft resolution A/67/L.62, circulated under agenda item 103, “Crime prevention and criminal justice”. Members will recall that the Assembly concluded its consideration of agenda item 103 at its 60th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2012. In order for the Assembly to take action on the draft *1331980* 13-31980 (E) resolution, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of agenda item 103. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to reopen agenda item 103?

Members will further recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting on 21 September 2012, the General Assembly decided to allocate agenda item 103 to the Third Committee. In order to enable the General Assembly to take action expeditiously on the document, may I also take it that the Assembly wishes to consider agenda item 103 directly in plenary meeting and proceed immediately to its consideration?

The General Assembly will now take action on the draft resolution contained in document A/67/L.62. “Requests the President of the General Assembly to draw up a list of representatives of other relevant non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, the private sector and the media active in combating trafficking in persons, taking into account the principle of transparency and the principle of equitable geographical representation, to submit the proposed list to Member States for their consideration on a non-objection basis and to bring the list to the attention of the General Assembly”. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/67/L.62, entitled “Modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/67/L.62? Draft A/67/L.62 resolution was adopted (resolution 67/260).

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote or position are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

The high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons will be an opportunity to assess the national, regional and international efforts to combat the despicable phenomenon of trafficking in persons. As a party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Israel attaches great importance to the fight against trafficking in persons and therefore joined the consensus on resolution 67/260. However, my delegation would like to register its discontent over the wording of paragraph 9 on the participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Israel appreciates the tremendous effort and leadership of the facilitators, Ambassador Martin Sajdik of Austria and Ambassador Antonio Pedro Monteiro Lima of Cape Verde. However, we were dismayed by the manner in which some delegations insisted on limiting NGO participation at the 13 May high-level meeting. While those delegations declared for the record during the negotiations that they recognized the important work being done by NGOs, they still insisted on restrictive language with regard to civil society participation. We were deeply concerned that the participation of civil society and other important stakeholders would be considered on a non-objection basis, contravening basic principles of due process, fairness, transparency and accountability. As we emphasized throughout the negotiation process, the final decision on civil society participation rests with the General Assembly as a whole and not with any one State. Blocking NGOs without giving any justification and without allowing the Assembly to make that decision, as has been done several times, is simply not acceptable. Israel strongly believes that the high-level meeting should be a platform for all relevant stakeholders to express their views and exchange best practices. NGOs operate on the ground in every corner of the globe, and are crucial players in the fight against trafficking in persons in the developed and developing worlds alike. I would like to end by quoting the Secretary-General, who said as long ago as 2009: “Our times demand a new definition of leadership  — global leadership. They demand a new constellation of international cooperation — Governments, civil society and the private sector, working together for a collective global good.” It is time that the General Assembly embraced the Secretary-General’s vision.

Belarus welcomes the consensus adoption today of resolution 67/260 on the modalities of the high-level meeting on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. I would like to thank the facilitators, Mr. Martin Sajdik, Permanent Representative of Austria, and Mr. Antonio Pedro Monteiro Lima, Permanent Representative of Cape Verde, for facilitating the process. I would also like to thank the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in New York for its substantive support. Three years ago, the collective commitment to fight the modern form of slavery known as human trafficking led United Nations Member States to adopt the Global Plan of Action, aimed at enforcing and strengthening cooperation at every level to prevent and combat human trafficking and to promote and protect the human rights and social development of victims. Unfortunately, the informals on the resolution demonstrated a disturbing trend when some delegations, in trying to eliminate the non-objection procedure from the draft resolution and thereby undermine the principle of sovereign equality, a cornerstone of the Charter of the United Nations, created a dangerous basis for interference in the national sovereignty of Member States. We believe that such an approach is unacceptable, and in this particular case could breed misunderstanding in international cooperation on combating trafficking in persons. We should keep in mind that, as key players in the fight against modern slavery, Member States take centre stage. At the same time, the process of combating trafficking is based on the crucial premise that the coordinated participation of all partners, including civil society, is key. Thanks to our facilitators and those delegations whose commitment to fighting trafficking led to certain compromises, the consultative process ultimately resulted in a balanced resolution providing ample opportunity for participation in the high-level meeting by all stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations involved in fighting trafficking in persons. The concern of Belarus during the process of informals and today, less than two weeks before the event, is that the procrastination in the negotiations could have a negative impact on preparations for the high-level meeting, as the first event on human trafficking at such a level and of such a scope ever to be organized at the United Nations. Belarus believes that if countries of origin, transit or destination of victims of trafficking decide to take part in the meeting at a high political level, they will send to voters a much-needed and timely signal that their national Governments do not just talk but have the necessary will and resolve to work together to put an end to this horrible crime. In that regard, Belarus would like to appeal to all delegations to do their best to work with their capitals to persuade high-level decision-makers to attend this event by convincing them of the supreme moral urgency of a cause that will bring us together.

Canada would like to express its appreciation for the hard work done by the representatives of Austria and Cape Verde on the important resolution 67/260, and we look forward to participating in the upcoming high-level meeting. We emphasize that the Canadian Government is firmly committed to the global fight against human trafficking and is stepping up its efforts to address this heinous crime in Canada and abroad. We are, however, disappointed that the General Assembly has been slowly moving away from its past practice regarding the participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in United Nations events. This trend, evidenced by the emergence of non-objection language on NGO participation, appears to be a shift away from ensuring a transparent and open selection process for the participation of NGOs without Economic and Social Council consultative status. While Canada agrees that Member States should be consulted in the selection process for NGOs without such consultative status, we also believe that NGOs should participate in United Nations events on the basis of their relevance to the subject matter under consideration. But allowing any one State to block the participation of an organization for reasons unrelated to that organization’s relevance, and potentially against the will of the General Assembly, is not in accordance with the principles of accountability or transparency. Canada will continue to work with all Member States to advance the principles of clarity and transparency in United Nations processes and events, and we urge others to adhere to the same principles for future events.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member States. We would like to offer our thanks and deep appreciation to the facilitators, Ambassador Monteiro Lima of Cape Verde and Ambassador Sajdik of Austria, and their teams for their tireless efforts to facilitate the discussions of resolution 67/260, and for their outstanding work in conducting the consultation process in a very open and transparent manner. The high-level meeting will provide a forum for appraising, in the context of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, the progress achieved in the implementation of the relevant legal instruments, as well as for exchanging experiences and best practices in the prevention and prosecution of human trafficking and the protection and assistance of victims. We regret the fact that the resolution does not identify more clearly the protocol for preventing, suppressing and punishing trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It is the most important relevant instrument, and we should not disregard the importance that the Global Plan of Action itself attaches to the promotion, universality and implementation of the Convention. At the outset, we expressed our preference for avoiding this modalities resolution and the lengthy discussions that ensued. We would have liked to focus our energies on preparing for the event, which shall take place in the coming days. We were deeply disappointed by the reluctance shown by some Member States to ensure the full participation of representatives of civil society at the meeting, and to provide transparency in the way that relevant, non-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) would be allowed to participate. We firmly believe that maintaining a strong and open dialogue with relevant civil society groups should be a key element, especially in the area of trafficking, where the work and action of civil society can make a significant difference to the victims. For that reason, throughout the consultations on the resolution we consistently promoted, as we have in other instances, the idea that the process of admission of NGOs to participate in the meeting should be completely transparent and allow for the full involvement of the General Assembly. In that regard, the Assembly should not deviate from the spirit of and procedures laid out in guiding resolution 1996/31 of the Economic and Social Council, which provides for full transparency at all stages of the accreditation process. It is our interpretation of paragraph 9 of resolution 67/260 that Member States will receive full information and that, based on this, the General Assembly will be able to make a final decision on the presence of civil society representatives or specific NGOs. We hope that a more constructive approach will be shown by all Member States in future discussions on civil society participation at the United Nations. We will remain strongly committed to ensuring an improved, more open and transparent process for the selection of NGOs participating in specific United Nations meetings. We look forward to a successful and fully inclusive discussion during the high-level meeting.

China supports the adoption of resolution 67/260 on the modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. These days, global human trafficking is rampant. China attaches great importance to combating trafficking in persons. As this year marks the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, China supports the holding of a high-level meeting of the General Assembly to evaluate the implementation of the Global Plan of Action so as to bolster the joint efforts of the international community to combat trafficking in persons. China is convinced that, with the efforts of all the parties concerned, the high-level meeting will be crowned with success. The adoption of resolution 67/270, which is a routine procedural resolution, should have been a routine matter. However, the consultations leading up to it were fraught with unimaginable difficulties, complications and setbacks. Why was that? The sole reason is that certain parties disregarded the regulations and institutional arrangements established with regard to the participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the high-level meeting of the General Assembly, repeatedly challenged the principle regarding NGOs without consultative status with the Economic and Social Council participating in the high-level meeting of the Assembly, and repeatedly attempted to politicize the issue of such participation by NGOs. Such practices are totally unacceptable to the majority of Member States, including China. China has consistently supported NGO participation in and contributions to the work of the United Nations in accordance with United Nations rules of procedure. However, China must point out that the United Nations is an intergovernmental Organization comprised of sovereign States. The principle of the non-objection procedure is meant to safeguard the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations and the sacred sovereign right of Member States to consider and decide on the participation of NGOs in the work of the United Nations, and to preserve the established rules of procedure of the United Nations. The notion that that principle would prevent NGOs from participating in the activities of the United Nations is based on an erroneous interpretation and deliberate distortion of that principle. It is, moreover, an affront to Member States and a challenge to their sovereignty. China resolutely rejects that notion. On that basis, the Chinese delegation would like to sincerely thank all Member States, including the Group of African States, that demonstrated their support for the principle of the non-objection procedure, and for their adherence to that principle and their outspoken defence of the sovereignty of Member States and the established principles of the United Nations. China admires them all for their perseverance and their courage. To conclude, China would like to thank the President of the General Assembly and his Office for the leading role they played throughout process. China would also like to thank the representatives of Cape Verde and Austria for the tremendous amount of consultative work they undertook. China would further like to thank Belarus for introducing this important resolution. The Chinese delegation hopes that the high-level meeting will meet with success and pledges its willingness to actively participate in the work of the meeting.

The Mexican delegation believes in the great importance of resolution 67/270 on preparations for the high-level meeting to follow up and appraise the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, to be held on 13 and 14 May. We hope that, despite the limited amount of time remaining, we will be able to organize a meeting that will help us to make progress towards achieving the goals of the Global Plan and promote an exchange of information and good practices to address the issue of trafficking in persons. As we have said before, one of the fundamental issues in organizing high-level meetings of the General Assembly is the participation of civil society and non-governmental organizations. With respect to the issue before us, civil society organizations have played a very relevant role in preventing the trafficking of persons, providing care to victims and furthering the work of the United Nations to combat this scourge. Once again, the delegation of Mexico reiterates its commitment to the broadest possible participation of civil society representatives, who are key players in our deliberations. Therefore, we regret that paragraph 9 of the resolution just adopted seeks to limit the participation of such organizations, submitting them exclusively to the process of non-objection by Member States without also considering the crucial principle of due process. We believe that the principle of transparency should guide all of our actions and that its mention in paragraph 9 means that the General Assembly will be informed of the list of all civil society organizations that wish to participate in the high-level meeting. We hope that in the future we will be able to follow a coherent practice based on the principles of due process and transparency in order to finally rise above such debates, which clearly affect the ability of the United Nations to work towards its objectives. Finally, we would like to thank the Permanent Representatives of Austria and Cape Verde for their work to find a lasting solution during the negotiations on this resolution. We also thank the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for its work in this area and its preparations for the high-level meeting.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of African States, following the adoption of resolution 67/270 on the modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. The African Group would like to express its gratitude to the two facilitators of the resolution on the modalities, format and organization of the high- level meeting, Ambassador Martin Sajdik, Permanent Representative of Austria, and Ambassador Antonio Pedro Monteiro Lima, Permanent Representative of Cape Verde, as well as their dedicated teams, for their efforts to come up with a text acceptable to all delegations and groups. The Group would like to thank them for their facilitation, which helped to bridge the different positions expressed during the difficult and sensitive negotiations. They succeeded in bringing the Member States and different groups together in the end, and we thank them for that. The African Group’s position on the selection of non-governmental organizations to participate in the work of the United Nations is well known. The African Group would like to state that while the resolution adopted today is not perfect, in the spirit of compromise it is acceptable to the Group. The African Group has always committed itself to fostering cooperation among States Members of the United Nations. The Group believes, in that regard, that what is important is to give an opportunity to all stakeholders to engage in discussions on the achievements, gaps and challenges in the implementation of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons and on the contributions, efforts and best practices in the fight against trafficking in persons. The Group would like to recall that it has been a long road filled with obstacles, challenges and stumbling blocks, as well as significant achievements, since our African leaders worked with determination from Sharm el-Sheikh  — where they adopted a decision during the African Union summit, in June and July 2008, to work together towards the adoption of the Global Plan of Action, which was also supported by the Non-Aligned Movement a year later — to New York, where the General Assembly adopted the Global Plan of Action (resolution 64/293) in July 2010. The African Group would like at this stage to express and reiterate its disappointment concerning the date of the meeting scheduled for 13 to 14 May. That date coincides with the annual African Union summit scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, and we are concerned that the timing may not allow the desired high-level participation of African delegations. Nevertheless, the African Group is committed to participating in the high-level meeting. The Group remains committed to the fight against organized crime, particularly trafficking in persons and all other issues linked to it, such as ending victimization, prosecuting perpetrators, preventing and protecting all people from falling into the hands of organized crime gangs, compensating victims and supporting national efforts and relevant organizations in their work towards that end. The African Group would like to reiterate its support to the universally approved mechanism for coordinating all our efforts  — national, regional and international  — on behalf of the Global Plan of Action against trafficking, which acts not only as a coordinating mechanism for all States Members of the United Nations, but also as a strategic framework within which the international community can work coherently towards preventing and fighting trafficking in persons, as well as for the relevant existing international instruments, including, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The Global Plan of Action is not an exclusive instrument to Member States and the United Nations system. It belongs to all and should be fully and effectively implemented by all actors — international organizations; civil society, including non-governmental organizations; and the private sector — that have a great role to play in the fight against trafficking in persons. The African Group is committed to working with all stakeholders in fighting the scourge of trafficking in persons, and will be more than proud to cooperate and collaborate with all of them to ensure a successful outcome for the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

We would first like to add our thanks to our colleagues Ambassador Martin Sajdik of Austria and Ambassador Antonio Pedro Monteiro Lima of Cape Verde for their facilitation of discussions of the modalities of the high- level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. The United States Government will participate actively in that special meeting of the General Assembly, which will evaluate progress to date on meeting the goals outlined in the 2010 Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. In the spirit of strengthened partnerships, coordination and cooperation among all relevant stakeholders, throughout the negotiations on resolution 67/260 we underscored the important role that non-governmental and civil society organizations (NGOs), including those that do not have consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, should play through their participation in the high-level meeting. NGOs, civil society organizations, academic institutions and private sector organizations worldwide play a crucial role in combatting trafficking in persons, and that role is emphasized in the Global Plan of Action. It is often the non-governmental organizations without consultative status with the Economic and Social Council that stand on the front lines and provide needed services for trafficked victims. Their experience and expertise are essential to the success of the high-level meeting and future events. The process of admission for civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations, to participate in the high-level meeting must be completely transparent. We appreciate the consensus that was forged in that regard. We also understand paragraph 9 to enable the General Assembly to give consideration to any possible objections made by Member States. We underscore that non-governmental organizations must not be denied access to United Nations forums for political reasons. The high-level meeting will have a far greater value if all relevant concerned civil society voices are heard without objection. Each special session, high-level meeting or conference is a little different, so as we gain experience with various formulas, we expect to refine and develop our modalities, language and implementation to provide better for appropriate civil society access and participation in United Nations work. The United States looks forward to continued cooperation to make the high-level meeting a forward-looking and productive one.

I am making an explanation of position after the adoption of resolution 67/260 on behalf of Liechtenstein, Norway and my own country, Switzerland. Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland would like to commend the facilitators, Ambassador Antonio Pedro Monteiro Lima and Ambassador Martin Sajdik, for their unwavering efforts in providing guidance in the consultations on the resolution and in leading the resolution to a consensus adoption. We welcome the purpose of the resolution and reaffirm our commitment to the fight against trafficking in persons. The high- level meeting, to be held on 13 May 2013, will present an important opportunity to take stock of the state of implementation of Member States’ political commitments and legal obligations in the fight against trafficking in persons. However, with regard to inclusive stakeholder participation in the high-level meeting itself, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are concerned about the reluctance to fully apply the principles of transparency and due process in allowing the participation of interested non-governmental organizations (NGOs) without consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and the wider civil society. In our view, the activities of civil society, in particular of representatives of victims, grassroots organizations and small non-governmental organizations, in the fight against trafficking in persons are key, and their contributions to the discussions of the General Assembly therefore most valuable. For that reason, it is important to grant them an appropriate role in the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Throughout the consultation process on the modalities resolution, we advocated for a transparent and open process to allow for the participation of interested NGOs and civil society  — a process that accords a role not only to individual Member States but to the General Assembly as a whole when the list proposed by the President of the General Assembly is being consulted and decided upon. We deeply regret that it was not possible to build on a procedure adopted by the General Assembly earlier this year that would have allowed for greater transparency and due process. Let me put on record that Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland understand the meaning of the language in paragraph 9 of resolution 67/260, which we have just adopted, as follows. After consultations among Member States on the proposed NGOs and civil society stakeholders, the General Assembly will have the possibility to consider the list of relevant stakeholders and possible objections made by Member States. We understand that the General Assembly is the legitimate body to take a final decision on the participation of relevant stakeholders in the high-level meeting. Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland will continue to support the important role we attach to NGOs and wider civil society in general on this particular subject. We will therefore continue to engage in dialogue with Member States to develop appropriate standards in that regard.

I would like to thank the Ambassadors of Austria and Cape Verde for their dedicated efforts to bring about consensus among delegations on the modalities for the upcoming high- level meeting on trafficking in persons. It has not been an easy task. This issue is one to which Australia attaches great importance, and we look forward to participating actively in the high-level meeting and to furthering the global fight to end this horrific practice. With respect, however, to the model provided in resolution 67/260 for the participation of civil society organizations, we would like to register our concern that this formulation places unnecessary restrictions on the ability of non-governmental organizations without consultative status with the Economic and Social Council to participate in the meeting. On an issue such as trafficking in persons, which is often an invisible crime, and where victims are kept far from sight, it is the work of grassroots civil society organizations that is most effective in helping victims of trafficking, and in turn breaking the trade. In that context, we consider the participation of civil society in the high-level meeting to be particularly critical to informing our global efforts. Australia strongly values the participation of civil society organizations in all of our deliberations at the United Nations. We consider it particularly valuable in the context of our efforts to promote and protect the human rights of all persons. Civil society organizations enrich our understanding of the issues and, as a consequence, the decisions we take, our actions and our achievements. An open model to ensure civil society participation based on the principles of transparency must be upheld. We look forward to continuing our efforts to support and strengthen the participation of civil society organizations in United Nations forums going forward.

Costa Rica expresses its gratitude to the facilitators, the Ambassadors of Austria and Cape Verde, and their teams for their hard work in search of consensus. We also thank all delegations that participated in the negotiations for their flexibility, which allowed us to attain today’s result. For my country, combating trafficking in persons is a matter of priority, as reflected in our 2013 legislation on this issue. We therefore view it as an urgent priority to finalize the organizational details for the high-level meeting. We would have preferred to see more specific language on the transparency that should characterize the accreditation process for non-governmental organizations without consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. All States, non-governmental organizations and the public in general must have equal access to information with regard to which organizations are interested in participating, whether there are objections to their participation, and on what basis, as well as with regard to the final list of participating organizations. We firmly believe that transparency will only benefit our work and give us the chance to hear the diverse voices of the organizations working in this field on the ground. We hope to have a successful meeting that will allow us to strengthen the strategies and partnerships for preventing trafficking in persons and protecting the human rights of its victims.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 103.