A/73/PV.44 General Assembly

I now give the floor to the representative of Tunisia to introduce draft resolution A/73/L.36.

Draft resolution A/73/L.36 highlights the importance of sport as a crucial vehicle for development, social cohesion, peace and solidarity among peoples. Resolution 70/1, adopted by the Assembly on 25 September 2015, stipulates in paragraph 37: “Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.” It is in that spirit that, among other things, this year’s draft resolution recognizes the importance of adopting comprehensive approaches towards health and regular physical activity, including sport and leisure, in order to prevent and control non-communicable diseases and promote healthy lifestyles. The draft resolution also welcomes the memorandum of understanding signed in April 2014 between the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations and affirms that the Olympic and Paralympic movements make an invaluable contribution by establishing sport as a unique means of promoting peace and development. It also duly reflects the roles of UNESCO and UN-Women and the importance of partnerships. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the International Convention against Doping in Sport are important tools in the context of sport for development and peace. The draft resolution also refers to the UNESCO Kazan Action Plan and the World Health Assembly Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018- 2030. The Kazan Action Plan and its sport policy follow-up framework, adopted at the sixth UNESCO International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport, together provide a crucial frame of reference based on voluntary activities that seeks to encourage international harmonization among decision-makers in the areas of physical education, physical activity and sport, as well as a tool for synchronizing international and national policies in those areas. The draft resolution encourages Member States, United Nations entities, including peacekeeping missions, special political missions and integrated peacebuilding missions, sports organizations, federations and associations, athletes, the media, civil society, universities and the private sector to make use of those tools, where possible, in a coherent and integrated way to give sport a more decisive role in intersectoral strategies relating to development and peace and to integrate sport and physical education into international, regional and national policies and programmes. Finally, the draft resolution calls on the relevant entities of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, within their respective mandates and existing resources, to strengthen and systematize inter-agency collaboration, in line with the updated United Nations Action Plan on Sport for Development and Peace, in order to maximize the potential of sport and physical activity to contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and national peacebuilding and State-building priorities. In conclusion, I would like to underscore that, as the main co-sponsors, the delegations of my country and of Monaco worked to maintain consensus around this draft resolution. In that regard, I would like to express the appreciation of my delegation and that of Monaco for the quality of the fruitful discussions and exchanges throughout the process of informal consultations, as well as the great flexibility shown by various delegations. We express our gratitude to all the traditional co-sponsors and the new co-sponsors for their renewed support to the draft resolution. I could not conclude my remarks without expressing my heartfelt thanks to Ms. Daniela Bas, Director of the Division for Inclusive Social Development, and her team, with whom we worked very closely throughout the consultation process.

Australia thanks the Secretary-General for his report (A/73/325). Australia supports efforts to use sport as an enabler for development and peace. We recognize the important role that sport plays in bringing people and communities together and in providing opportunities for inclusion while also fostering community pride. Sport also teaches important life skills such as leadership, teamwork, respecting rules, discipline and perseverance. Australia is firmly committed to promoting an inclusive environment and supporting participation regardless of ability, gender, race, religion, socioeconomic status, ethnicity and age. To support that, Australia has invested in national policies and initiatives to promote diversity in physical activity and healthy living in all segments of the population at all levels of sport. Australia has promoted inclusivity at the major international sporting events that we have hosted, such as the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, which has been recognized as the most inclusive and accessible major sporting event in history. Australia’s para-athletes are some of the most celebrated and recognizable athletes and have a particular ability to motivate and inspire the nation. For the first time in history, the 2018 Commonwealth Games included the full integration of para-sports in the competition schedule and an equal number of medals for men and women. I would also like to take this opportunity to note that today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and an important reminder of the contribution of sport to helping to promote inclusivity for all. Australia is working in partnership with our major sporting codes to help to break down barriers to integration and inclusion in migrant communities to deliver a number of community programmes across the country. Australia is currently in the process of renewing its Sports Diplomacy Strategy, and supporting sport for development will remain one of our strategic priorities. Australia takes pride in using sport to help developing countries in our region to achieve positive economic and social results within their communities. We are also working to deliver stronger development outcomes through partnerships throughout the Pacific through the Sport for Development programme and the Australia Pacific Sports Linkages programme. Those programmes aim to strengthen sporting ties with our valued neighbours across the Pacific, with a particular focus on championing women to be active. Australia supports the Secretary-General’s recommendations to further work on sport for development and peace at all levels and to promote policy coherence. Australia’s commitment to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer new significance for sport inclusion. Through its role on the Commonwealth Advisory Board on Sport and at the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting, Australia has identified key areas where sport can contribute to advancing the SDGs. Australia’s involvement in research into the contribution that sport can make to achieving the SDGs brings depth and credibility to the place of sport as a vehicle for improving inclusion outcomes across the areas of health, education, social cohesion, business and leadership development at home as well as in our immediate neighbourhood. Earlier this year, Australia delivered the first-ever National Sports Plan: Sport 2030. The Plan outlines a number of initiatives to promote and inspire more Australians to be more active more often. That includes specific programmes centred around providing opportunities to women to assist in overcoming cultural barriers and enabling women, from the grassroots to the elite, to become leaders in their sporting fields. We also remain focused on promoting the importance of physical activity to an ageing demographic. We have in place a number of initiatives to encourage older Australians to engage in sport. Our Play by the Rules initiative also provides information, resources, tools and free online training to assist coaches, officials, players and spectators in preventing and dealing with discrimination, harassment, child safety, inclusion and integrity issues in sport. Play by the Rules guides grass- roots sports clubs and organizations to be inclusivity champions in their communities and to celebrate the rich diversity of sport. Australia remains committed to working towards further inclusivity, equality and diversity in sport and using sport as an enabler for development and peace. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Permanent Missions of Tunisia and Monaco for their co-facilitation of the draft resolution to be adopted today. Australia is very pleased to co-sponsor the draft resolution, as we did with its many precursors.

We would like to thank the Secretary-General for his very thorough report on strengthening the global framework for leveraging sport for development and peace (A/73/325). Belarus was very pleased to join as a co-sponsor of draft resolution A/73/L.36, entitled “Sport as an enabler of sustainable development”. We express our gratitude to Monaco and Tunisia for promoting this important issue on the United Nations agenda. The role of physical fitness and sport in forming a healthy way of life and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is growing every year. Sport plays an important role in contributing to sustainable development, reaffirming the principles of tolerance and respect, broadening rights and opportunities for women and young people, individuals and communities, and helping to achieve goals in the areas of health care, education and social integration. Against the current backdrop of international instability, sport continues to serve as a resource that can consolidate the ideals of peace, friendship and mutual understanding. We therefore highly value the efforts of the United Nations and its specialized agencies in seeking to use sporting opportunities to promote development and peace. Promoting health, physical fitness and sport are among the priority areas of the social policy of Belarus. Our country is committed to developing international cooperation in sport and to strengthening friendly relations among peoples through sport based on humanist principles and the Olympic ideal. Sport is indivisible from politics; it is the people’s diplomacy. Through athleticism, States can project their national image on the international stage, while illustrating the social and political values of their societies. However, sport is politically neutral, and it must remain so. Unfortunately, sport is increasingly not about the playing and has developed into a business rife with corruption and unsportsmanlike activities to win at all costs. Doping has become the scourge of modern sport. Belarus actively participates in international efforts to combat drug use in sport, and upholds the principle of legal, individualized and just punishment. At the same time, we strongly condemn the tendency to politically pressure certain athletes and entire sporting federations under the pretext of fighting against doping, while in fact it is used to settle political scores, and athletes are being caught up in those dirty games. Biased officiating is another vice in modern sport, and it violates the principles of fair play and makes athletes lose faith in the same chances of winning. In that context, to combat the negative trends in sport, an important role must be played by the International Olympic Committee, which must be supported in its activities by national Olympic committees. We must not ignore their opinions. International sporting events must be organized in the spirit of peace, mutual understanding and friendship, and we must recognize and respect the unifying and reconciliatory nature of such events. Belarus is very proud that it was granted the right to host the most important European sporting event of 2019 — the second European Games. The fact that these Games will be held in Minsk will be an important milestone on the European sporting calendar. We note that preparations are already under way for the eighty- fifth Ice Hockey World Championship, to be held in the capitals of Belarus and Latvia ­— Minsk and Riga — in 2021. While sport is not a panacea for solving all international problems, it has a unique capacity to bring together people from various cultures and to help strengthen mutual understanding among States and peoples in the spirit of the true Olympic ideals of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

The Maldives is proud to have co-sponsored draft resolution A/73/L.36, entitled “Sports as an enabler of sustainable development”. As the draft resolution reiterates, sport has the extraordinary ability to unite peoples, overcome differences and promote equality, as well as to help maintain the physical health of a society. Those are some of key values that inform our approach to sustainable development in general, and to Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 5, 16 and 17 in particular. Sport, especially the Olympic ideal, has helped to create equality and a level playing field to bring out the best in humankind. The Maldives is proud to be an active participant in the Olympic movement. Maldivian athletes took the great leap forward by participating in the Olympic Games for the first time in 1988. It was truly a unique moment in time, not only for those who participated but also for a generation of youth inspired by the Games as a transformative event. The Government of the Maldives has prioritized sport as an instrument of youth development to promote a healthy population and to realize the full potential of the country’s youth. The Maldives enacted its first Sports Act in September 2015. The legislation aims to assist the promotion of competitive sports and cultural activities at the international, national and island levels. It also outlines policies and guidelines to facilitate sports development with community-level participation. That is why we pioneered the implementation of Security Council resolution 2250 (2015). The Maldives, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, held an official ceremony in the Maldives in August 2016 to launch the implementation of the resolution, thereby becoming the first country to do so in the Asia-Pacific region. Since assuming office on 17 November, the new Government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has continued to make significant investments in sports infrastructure and inclusive opportunities for all. As part of President Solih’s 100-day agenda, the Government has made it a priority to designate a sports counsellor on every island to eliminate the wage difference between men’s and women’s national sports teams and to encourage female participation in sport to challenge traditional gender stereotypes. The investments in sports will no doubt allow young people to develop leadership skills and provide them with support networks outside their homes. It is therefore imperative to empower the growing youth population to become active citizens in their communities, which will foster economic and social progress. Sports programmes coordinated by the United Nations, Government agencies and non-governmental organizations have been found to facilitate sustainable development and peaceful coexistence. It is encouraging to see that sport for peace and development is reflected in all 17 Goals under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to see that in action in countries around the world. The Maldives has been making steady progress in regional and international competitions in various sports. Our women’s and men’s teams have performed quite well in recent months. That success has helped to galvanize young people in the country and created more opportunities that will unleash their creativity to allow them to aim higher and dream bigger.

At the outset, I would like to say that I am pleased to participate on behalf of the young people of the United Arab Emirates in this general debate on agenda item 12, entitled “Sports for development and peace”. We welcome the efforts of Monaco and Tunisia as co-facilitators of draft resolution A/73/L.36, entitled “Sport as an enabler of sustainable development”, which stresses the importance of strengthening the global framework for leveraging sport for development and peace. Sport is an important enabler for achieving sustainable development under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, contributing to the attainment of the desired goals in the areas of health, education, justice and peace. In March 2019, my country will host 7,000 athletes from more than 170 States at the Abu Dhabi Special Olympics World Games — the first time they will be held in the Middle East since the Special Olympics was established 50 years ago. That is the largest human sporting event in the world focused on enabling those with mental disabilities to participate in sports. The event represents an important step towards the integration of persons with mental disabilities into inclusive societies. The United Arab Emirates attaches great importance to building a society that is highly cognizant of, and educated in, the sport of ju-jitsu. We have adopted the sport as a main subject in more than 162 schools and more than 300 training centres, with curricula devised to support students in developing technical skills and physical health, as well as to strengthen the values of discipline and commitment and encourage students to become passionate about sports. My country established the Abu Dhabi World Ju-Jitsu Championship, now in its tenth year, to which we welcome the top professional men and women as well as young people and people with disabilities. We believe that the role of women and girls is an essential tool in the advancement of women. In the United Arab Emirat, women and girls have attained prominent positions in karate, weightlifting, volleyball and Ju-Jitsu. Moreover, the development of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Prize in women’s sport is the first of its kind, aimed at enhancing the position of women in sport while promoting development and seeking to achieve their aspirations. Sport is a useful tool for enhancing the participation of young people in their growth, self-confidence and sense of belonging, while strengthening tolerance and respect. Consequently, youngsters become agents for change and partners in building peaceful and inclusive societies and contributing to sustainable development and social cohesion. That is why young people in my country have participated in a number of workshops on sport diplomacy and sport as a lifestyle, as well as a workshop on sport, youth and social development, which was held last week at the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations. We attach great importance to listening to the opinions of young people and to discussing their ideas and opinions as a means of finding solutions to challenges, with the participation of decision-makers and State officials as well as at the international level. My country is also harnessing sport for peace and development by encouraging sports in refugee camps. We recently launched the 2018 summer sports programme in the Mrajeeb Al Fhood camp in Jordan to develop the talents of young people in the camp and help to improve the living conditions of refugees. In conclusion, as a representative of the young people of the United Arab Emirates, I would like to stress the importance of leveraging sport for development and peace as a key element and enabler of peaceful coexistence, tolerance and team spirit. Sport also imparts the values of discipline, endurance and courage to young people.

At the outset, my delegation would like to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on strengthening the global framework for leveraging sport for development and peace (A/73/325). We would also like to express our appreciation to the Permanent Missions of Monaco and Tunisia for their hard work on draft resolution A/73/L.36, entitled “Sport as an enabler of sustainable development”. Sport can be a force for positive change in society. It instils values such as discipline, perseverance, teamwork and sportsmanship. It also inspires people to push boundaries and strive for greater heights beyond what they believe they can normally achieve. Those are important skills for an individual’s personal and professional life and future. In addition, exercise and sport contribute to improvements in health and the overall quality of life of individuals towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. Singapore celebrates sport in everyday life. We launched the Get Active initiative in 2016, a week- long sports festival that encourages Singaporeans to participate in sport and to have an active and healthy lifestyle. Sport not only brings about health benefits; it also has a positive impact on society. As noted in the Secretary-General’s report, sport can help to build human and social capital and promote social integration, inclusion and cohesion. It is a powerful vehicle that brings individuals and communities together. It can foster social development by changing perceptions. Regardless of faith, culture, background or gender, sport enhances mutual understanding, true teamwork and respect. The esprit de corps forged through sport also fosters a sense of pride and solidarity among people. Given the personal and development benefits sport offers, emphasis should be placed on increasing access to, and participation in, sport. It is for those reasons that Singapore has integrated sport into our national educational curriculum under the sports education programme. Those are important values that we believe should be imbued in our people, especially our youth. Sport also contributes to lowering barriers in societies in other ways. It can engender greater acceptance and awareness of persons with disabilities. In 2016, Singapore launched the Disability Sports Master Plan to ensure that sport in Singapore remains an inclusive activity. The Master Plan provides persons with disabilities with more opportunities to participate in sports. It also develops and expands the pool of educators with expertise in disability sport. We are also working to increase awareness and support for our athletes with disabilities among Singaporeans through the annual inclusive sports festival, which features adaptive sports try-outs and workshops that everyone can experience. The efforts to develop sport in Singapore have succeeded. Notably, at the October 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Singapore fielded 44 para-athletes across 10 sports and achieved our best-ever medal haul. But sport is about more than just results. For our para- athletes, it gives them self-belief and confidence that, despite physical disabilities, they are able to participate and compete. They were also an inspiration to all Singaporeans, who saw how they achieved sporting excellence despite their physical disabilities. They prove that, with hard work, perseverance and determination, one can overcome all odds. The benefits of sport also transcend national boundaries. Sport helps to promote closer people-to- people ties between Member States. There are countless inspirational stories of how regional and international friendships were forged in the fiery battle of sporting competition. We hope that such ties serve as stepping stones towards peace and greater dialogue and cooperation. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the role of sport in the realization of development and peace, the promotion of tolerance and respect and the empowerment of women and young people, as well as its many contributions to health, education and our goals of social inclusion. Let us continue to uphold the spirit of sport and aim to build a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future for all peoples.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (A/73/325), and in particular the Division for Inclusive Social Development, the Secretariat entity now charged with the issue of sport for development and peace. The new title of this draft resolution, “Sport as an enabler of sustainable development” (A/73/L.36), unequivocally affirms that sport provides numerous opportunities for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It was 25 years ago, at the initiative of Egypt, that the General Assembly first adopted a resolution dedicated to sport and the Olympic ideal (resolution 48/11). Over the years since 1993, the recognition of sport within the work of the United Nations has grown continuously. As my counterpart the Permanent Representative of Tunisia underscored in his statement introducing the draft resolution, the text before us highlights the normative framework relating to sport. The vast contribution of sport to development and peace is undeniable, and we are convinced that it has immense potential in the context of our joint efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We must continue to develop sport’s enabling role, in particular by using the communication tools used by young people. What better example than the Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games to illustrate what dialogue around sport can achieve? The success of the efforts of the President of the International Olympic Committee to establish dialogue between the two Koreas has sent the world a message of hope. To see athletes from those two countries parade under the same flag during the opening and closing ceremonies was extremely moving for all those who love sport and advocate peace. Beyond those symbolic moments, sport promotes understanding, cohesion, reconciliation and peace. In many countries, among many communities, sport has proved to be a common language that overcomes barriers. Whether recreational or competitive, solo or group, sport conveys fundamental values and allows human beings to express their full potential. In the context of the Olympism in Action forum held on the eve of the opening of the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in October, in which I had the privilege of participating, I had occasion to realize just how much of the work we do at the United Nations is relevant to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and grass-roots associations, especially in the areas of social development and human rights. That is worth underscoring in a year when we are celebrating the seventieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and on the heels of the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit we held in September. It is therefore crucial that we always keep in mind throughout our deliberations those who will be impacted by the decisions we make. The great success of that first forum, which brought together the members of the Olympic movement, NGOs, sports professionals and United Nations agencies, demonstrated, as if there were any need, the unifying power of the International Olympic Committee and its effective contribution to the activities of the United Nations. The discussions also confirmed the role of sport as a means of raising awareness about social issues and its contribution to social cohesion, inclusion and the fight against inequalities, including gender and pay inequality. Athletes are role models, and young people in particular identify with the greatest champions. Therefore, just like world-renowned teams, athletes are able to spread positive messages and help to support international cooperation activities. It is therefore up to us to convince them to help us promote the Sustainable Development Goals. The societal benefits of sport are indisputable. The draft resolution recognizes the Kazan Action Plan, endorsed by UNESCO in 2017, and its sport policy follow-up framework. I would like to stress the relevance of that tool as a point of reference, since it sets out a comprehensive vision of universal access to sport, physical education and physical activity and articulates how they can contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and their targets. Sport is a fundamental educational tool, and we must continue to work to ensure that it is an integral part of school curricula in all countries. Access to sport is particularly important for girls and people with disabilities: they must be assured unhindered access to sport. In that connection, I would like to commend the work of the United Nations and its partners as we celebrate today, 3 December, as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Through sport many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have been able to pursue higher education and to access opportunities otherwise unavailable to them. I must also commend private sector-sponsored after-school programmes, which enable young people from marginalized communities to avoid becoming caught up in delinquency. As highlighted in the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, held in September, regular physical activity should continue to be encouraged as a means of promoting a healthy lifestyle, as it helps to fight cardiovascular disease and obesity. Given its benefits, today physical activity is integrated into medical treatment, including in the fight against cancer, since it helps patients to better withstand intense treatment. We see an encouraging convergence of efforts by different sectors of society, State institutions, the private sector and medical establishments. Partnerships will be key for better harnessing sport to promote and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our delegation is also particularly pleased with the events that it was able to promote over the past year in cooperation with many missions and organizations on the sidelines of the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on the Status of Women, as well as on the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and in conjunction with the Football World Cup. The fruitful collaboration between the Permanent Missions of Tunisia and Monaco, co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace, has increased over the past year with the opening up of the Group to all interested Member States. We have focused on providing a space for interaction and exchange with United Nations entities. The strong mobilization at our monthly meetings demonstrates the power of sport as a factor of sustainable development. We are particularly proud that the draft resolution we are about to adopt is geared towards the future we want and highlights the synergies between sport and the 2030 Agenda. I could not conclude without expressing my gratitude and friendship to my Tunisian counterpart, an accomplished sportsman with whom it has been my honour and pleasure to co-chair the Group of Friends of Sport over the past six years.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/73/L.36, entitled “Sport as an enabler of sustainable development”. I give the floor to the representative or the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft resolution, in addition to those delegations listed in document A/73/L.36, the following countries have become sponsors of the draft resolution: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, the Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Malawi, the Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Sudan, Sweden, Togo, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Viet Nam.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/73/L.36?

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of position following the adoption of the resolution, I would like to remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

The United States believes that sport and physical education contribute to the promotion of education, health, development and peace. As such, we joined the consensus on resolution 73/24 today with the express understanding that the resolution does not imply that States must join instruments that they have not already joined, or implement provisions of human rights instruments that they have not accepted. By joining the consensus on the resolution, we do not recognize any change in the current state of treaty or customary international law. We also understand the resolution’s reaffirmation of prior documents to apply to those that affirmed them initially and, in the case of international treaties, to the States parties. We further understand the reference in the resolution to “internationally agreed development goals” to refer to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The United States position is articulate in the following explanation of position on that document. We take this opportunity to make important points of clarification on language related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We underscore that the 2030 Agenda is non-binding and does not create or affect rights or obligations under international law, neither does it create any new financial commitments. The United States recognizes the 2030 Agenda as a global framework for sustainable development that can help countries work towards global peace and prosperity. We applaud the call for shared responsibility, including national responsibility, in the 2030 Agenda, and emphasize that all countries have a role to play in achieving its vision. The 2030 Agenda recognizes that each country must work towards implementation in accordance with its own national policies and priorities. The United States also underscores that paragraph 18 of the 2030 Agenda calls for countries to implement the Agenda in a manner that is consistent with the rights and obligations of States under international law. We also highlight our mutual recognition, in paragraph 58, that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda must respect and be without prejudice to the independent mandates of other processes and institutions, including negotiations, and does not prejudge or serve as a precedent for decisions and actions under way in other forums. For example, the Agenda does not represent a commitment to provide new market access for goods or services. The Agenda also does not interpret or alter any World Trade Organization agreement or decision, including the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. With regard to paragraph 9, we support the focus on training, capacity-building and education of teachers, coaches and community leaders, although the United States does so mindful of, and consistent with, our limited authority at the federal level with respect to education, which is primarily the responsibility of our state and local governments. With regard to paragraph 15, the United States believes that the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which set out the responsibilities of business enterprises and provide relevant guidance for sports-related organizations, federations and associations, provide a valuable, important and universal framework for hosting mega sports events, including the complicated process of bidding, organizing, executing and ensuring positive legacies for such events.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. The General Assembly has concluded its consideration of agenda item 12.

I now give the floor to the representative of Nigeria to introduce draft resolution A/73/L.39.

We express our condolences at the demise of President George Herbert Walker Bush. May he rest in peace. I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/73/L.39, entitled “International Day of Education”. Nigeria is introducing this draft resolution, which calls for the observance of 24 January of every year as the International Day of Education under the auspices of the United Nations, in order to fill in an observed lacuna in the collective global efforts to promote education as a critical aspect of development. Education has been seen as fundamental to global development, especially within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Many United Nations documents have also underscored the centrality of education to development. The United Nations observes many days devoted to many important things, from bees and mountains to cycling and others. Clearly, it is education and knowledge that have led to the observance of such days. It is therefore important, even belatedly, to accord such a day to education itself. An intentional day of education marked by the international community would situation education at the core of the agenda for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations has defined education as not only a right but also a path towards human development. Its catalytic impact is concretely felt in the way that it opens doors for individuals, communities and nations, expands human freedom, contributes to fostering democracy and economic growth, improves health and reduces poverty. Furthermore, education has contributed to global peace, development, innovation, technology and agriculture. It has also helped in tackling climate change and in improving the enjoyment of human rights. In what matter of importance is education not implicated? That being the case, the denial of education to any human being is a serious and permanent injury to that person. So is it with nations and societies. Against that backdrop, Nigeria calls on the global community to endorse the observance of the International Day of Education. Such endorsement is expected to increase awareness, enhance momentum, support innovative efforts in transforming education, celebrate invention and innovation brought about by knowledge derived from education, and increase the visibility of education as critical to human and societal development. It would also invite the global audience to the continuous task of enhancing education and broadening educational opportunities, especially for those on the verge of being left behind, such as women and children and others in vulnerable situations, including people with disabilities and those in humanitarian emergency situations. The main objective of the draft resolution is not only to celebrate education in the form of a carnival but also to draw particular attention to the millions, especially girls and women, in many countries who are denied this supreme good. That should further galvanize support among all of us to commit to providing education for all. Finally, I would like to express my delegation’s profound appreciation to all the delegations that participated actively in the negotiation of the draft resolution. Indeed, the various United Nations agencies whose technical skills on the subject, such as UNESCO, and an array of non-governmental organizations helped to shape the draft resolution. Their valuable contributions, cooperation and support helped us to arrive at an agreed text that reflects the consensus among members of the General Assembly. My appreciation also goes to those delegations — Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Chad, the Congo, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Guinea, Ireland, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malta, Qatar, Singapore, Suriname, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe — that have already co-sponsored the draft resolution. In the same vein, I would like to invite those that have yet to co-sponsor it to do so, given the importance of this landmark draft resolution.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/73/L.39, entitled “International Day of Education”. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed in the document, the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/73/L.39: Afghanistan, Andorra, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, the Central African Republic, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Lithuania, Malawi, the Maldives, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Norway, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Romania, the Russian Federation, San Marino, South Sudan, the Sudan, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine and Viet Nam.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/73/L.39?

Before giving the floor to delegations that wish to speak in explanation of position following the adoption of the resolution, I would like to remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

The United States believes that education serves as a foundation for wide-reaching and long-lasting impact, particularly for the most vulnerable, and helps to put all our societies on a more sustainable path across all sectors of development. We are pleased to announce that the United States Government has just released its first strategy on international basic education, which emphasizes our commitment to serving young people in conflict and crisis, investing in both Government- provided and non-State schools, and focusing on measurable learning outcomes for students. We wish to call attention yet again to the important points of clarification on language related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that we made a few minutes ago under agenda item 12 following the adoption of resolution 73/24, entitled “Sport as an enabler of sustainable development”.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 14.

In accordance with rule 70 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, I now give the floor to Mr. Miguel Ferreira de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, to provide an oral briefing on behalf of the Secretary-General, as mandated in paragraph 7 of resolution 72/252, of 24 December 2017.

The Secretary-General regrets that he cannot join the General Assembly today, as he is in Katowice attending the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is therefore my pleasure to deliver this oral briefing on his behalf. In its resolution 72/252, the Assembly requested that the Secretary-General provide the Assembly, before the end of the main part of its seventy-third session, with an oral briefing on any progress made in relation to the investigation into the conditions and circumstances resulting in the tragic death of former Secretary- General Dag Hammarskjöld and the members of the party accompanying him. As an initial matter, I wish to recall that, pursuant to resolution 72/252, in March, the Secretary-General reappointed Mr. Mohamed Chande Othman as Eminent Person to continue the Dag Hammarskjöld investigation. In advance of the oral briefing, the Eminent Person submitted to the Secretary-General an interim report on progress in relation to the investigation. Upon the Eminent Person’s reappointment and pursuant to resolution 72/252, Mr. Othman initially requested nine Member States to appoint an independent and high-ranking official to conduct a dedicated internal review of their intelligence, security and defence archives to identify information that might be of relevance to the Dag Hammarskjöld investigation. The initial nine Member States to which requests were made were Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Out of the nine Member States to which requests were made, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United States took action in response to resolution 72/252 and the Eminent Person’s requests. Since the establishment of improved cooperation between those Member States and the Eminent Person, new information has been received from certain independent and high-ranking officials appointed by Member States, as well as from other sources. That information will be assessed by the Eminent Person for its probative value, in accordance with his mandate. A preliminary review indicates that the new information, including that from intelligence, security and defence archives, is of probative value in respect of our knowledge of the context and surrounding events of 1961, the presence of foreign paramilitary and intelligence personnel in and around the Congo and the capacity of armed forces present in and around the region at that time. In recent months, the Eminent Person has made additional requests for the appointment of independent and high-ranking officials to another five Member States, namely, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Portugal, Zambia and Zimbabwe. He has already received notification from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe of their appointments and continues to follow up on those additional requests. The Secretary-General wishes to express his gratitude to Member States for their cooperation with the Eminent Person and their willingness to provide additional information. The Secretary-General also wishes to remind Member States that may hold information of the need to appoint independent and high-ranking officials, or to make possible a full review of their intelligence, security and defence archives, consistent with paragraph 5 of resolution 72/252. In particular, the Secretary-General notes that the Eminent Person calls on certain Member States to appoint such officials, and he is considering how he can assist in that process. The Eminent Person appointed pursuant to resolution 71/260 noted in his report of last year that “the burden of proof has now shifted to Member States” (A/71/1042, para. 21) to show that they have conducted a full review of all records and archives in their custody or possession, including those from intelligence, security and defence archives. Indeed, the active participation of Member States remains of the highest importance in our shared search for the truth on this matter. The Secretary-General reiterates his full personal commitment to this matter and restates his gratitude for the work done so far by Member States and the Eminent Person. The Secretary-General recalls that it is our solemn duty to pursue the full truth concerning the conditions and circumstances resulting in the tragic death of former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and the members of the party accompanying him. The Secretary-General looks forward to further cooperation and engagement among Member States, the Eminent Person and the Secretariat, with a view to fully meeting the objectives set out by the General Assembly in resolution 72/252. The interim report of the Eminent Person will be available to interested Member States following this briefing and, consistent with resolution 72/252, the Eminent Person will submit a final report to the Secretary-General in mid-2019.

Let me first express my gratitude to the Secretary-General and the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and Legal Counsel for their strong commitment to, and continued engagement on, this matter. The Under-Secretary- General’s presence here today signals to all of us the determination of the United Nations leadership to see this issue through to a conclusion. Let me also express my sincere gratitude to the Eminent Person, Judge Mohamed Chande Othman, and his team for their tireless work on this matter, and to all Member States that have collaborated on, and contributed to, the investigation. Since 2015, Judge Othman has overseen major progress in the investigation. We strongly believe that we now have a unique opportunity to shed light on what happened in Ndola on 17 September 1961. We are pleased to learn today about the progress made in the investigation since the reappointment of Judge Othman, earlier this year. We look forward to receiving his interim report in order to study the details further. Let me particularly thank those Member States that have appointed national investigators to conduct dedicated reviews of their national archives to determine whether additional relevant information exists. Earlier this year, Sweden appointed Ambassador Mathias Mossberg as special investigator to ensure that all relevant information in the Swedish archives has reached the United Nations investigation. We have learned from the briefing today how important the findings of the national investigators are to driving the investigation forward. Therefore, let me strongly urge those countries that have been asked to but have yet to appoint a national investigator to do so without further delay. That was called for in resolution 72/252, which was adopted by consensus 11 months ago in this very Hall. The value of independent confirmation that all relevant information has been shared with the United Nations investigation cannot be underestimated. Judge Othman has concluded that the burden of proof has shifted to Member States to show that we have all conducted full reviews of records and archives, including those that remain classified. We must all show, beyond any uncertainty, that we have done just that. We owe it to the families of those who perished 57 years ago and to the Organization itself. We count on the full cooperation of all Member States. It is our shared responsibility to pursue the full truth in this matter.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this agenda item. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 131.