A/68/PV.87 General Assembly

Members will recall that the Assembly concluded its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 65 at its 70th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2013. In order for the Assembly to take action on the draft resolution, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 65. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to reopen consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 65?

Members will recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 20 September 2013, the General Assembly decided to allocate sub-item (a) of agenda item 65 to the Third Committee. To enable the General Assembly to take action expeditiously on the document, may I also take it that the Assembly wishes to consider sub-item (a) of agenda item 65 directly in plenary meeting and proceed immediately to its consideration? *1440414* 14-40414 (E)

I call on the representative of Sweden to introduce draft resolution A/68/L.46.

I have the pleasure to introduce draft resolution A/68/L.46, entitled “High- level meeting of the General Assembly on the twenty- fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child”, on behalf of Botswana, Jordan, Mexico, Poland, Thailand and Sweden, as well as more than 52 sponsors representing all regions. The draft resolution seeks to establish the modalities of a high-level meeting to commemorate the twenty- fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the General Assembly on 20 November. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is recognized as the international standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, as illustrated by its almost universal ratification. We are therefore very pleased that the membership of the United Nations has so positively supported the prospect of dedicating a one-day meeting of the General Assembly to that important topic. On behalf of the core group, we would like to thank all delegations for their contributions to the fruitful and productive discussions on the draft resolution, both in open informal consultations and bilateral contacts. We appreciate all efforts that contributed to the constructive negotiating atmosphere. The commemorative event in November represents an opportunity to once again reaffirm our common dedication to the realization of the rights of the child. We look forward to the support of members today.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/68/L.46. I shall now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

In connection with draft resolution A/68/L.46, entitled “High-level meeting of the General Assembly on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child”, I wish to put on record the following statement of financial implications on behalf of the Secretary- General, in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Under the terms of paragraph 1 of draft resolution A/68/L.46, the General Assembly would decide to convene a high-level meeting on 20 November on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and that the high-level meeting will comprise an opening plenary meeting and an interactive panel discussion with the meaningful participation of children. Pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 1 of the draft resolution, it is envisaged that the high- level meeting will comprise a total of two meetings on 20 November 2014, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The morning opening plenary meeting will require interpretation and verbatim reporting in all six languages, which will be covered by the meetings entitlement of the General Assembly. On the understanding that the General Assembly will not meet in parallel, the meeting will not constitute additions to the meetings workload of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. The interactive panel discussion in the afternoon will require one meeting with interpretation in all six languages, which will constitute an addition to the meetings workload of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. That would entail additional requirements in the amount of $11,500 for meeting servicing for the biennium 2014-2015. No documentation is anticipated related to the request contained in paragraph 1. In summary, should the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/68/L.46, additional requirements of $11,500 would arise under section 2, “General Assembly and Economic and Social Council Affairs and Conference Management”, which would be met from within the existing approved resources of the programme budget for the biennium 2014-2015.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/68/L.46, entitled “High- level meeting of the General Assembly on the twenty- fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child”. I shall now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution, in addition to those delegations listed in the document, the following countries have also become sponsors of draft resolution A/68/L.46: Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Viet Nam.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/68/L.46?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 65.