A/75/PV.62 General Assembly

Today’s discussion is a direct response to Member States’ concerns around the issue of rapid technological change and sustainable development and builds on yesterday’s high-level thematic debate on digital cooperation and connectivity. Together, those discussions cap off a concerted effort by Member States and the United Nations system to elevate the discourse around this important topic ahead of the sixth Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, to be held in May. As was emphasized at yesterday’s debate, rapid technological change is, first and foremost, a good thing. It is, however, one that must be well managed and accessible to all. Employed the right way, with policy instruments to guide development and facilitate access, technological advances can fuel action across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda. Take for example the pressing need to address environmental issues. Rapid technological innovations offer the opportunity for low-carbon solutions to be mainstreamed and introduced into new areas. The same can be said across the entirety of the SDGs. From new health-care technologies to safer air transport, to new data-driven policies for urban housing or biodiversity conservation, technological advances can help usher in faster and more profound progress on sustainable development. Yet there is understandably uncertainty and confusion around these issues, particularly when we are faced with both fast-paced change and deep- seated inequalities. It goes without saying that for many people across the globe, rapid technological change equates to rapid job change. A major concern globally is that emerging, frontier technologies are replacing human workers, with direct effects on jobs and livelihoods. That includes technologies that take advantage of digitalization and connectivity, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of things, big data, blockchain technology, fifth-generation technology, three-dimensional printing, robotics, drones, gene editing, nanotechnology and renewables. While workers and the population at large tend to expect those new technologies to reduce job opportunities, the opposite is often the case. New technologies can create new jobs in innovative, emerging sectors and lead to a better-equipped and better-connected workforce. For that to benefit all, however, efforts must be made to support retraining, and national and local capacities for adaptation must be supported. In that regard, I commend Member States and partners such as Microsoft for their announcements and statements of support at the high-level debate. Such efforts will help to strengthen economic growth in less developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as empowering young people globally. As I have emphasized during the past two days, closing the digital divide must be a priority as we emerge from the global pandemic. There is no path to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that does not include rapidly scaling up access to technologies and digitization globally. According to the Sustainable Development Goals Report of 2020, only 54 per cent of the global population uses the Internet, with the vast majority of the disconnected residing in least developed countries. If we are to maintain our commitment to leaving no one behind and to regain the momentum lost during the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, kick-starting action on the digital divide must be front and centre. The global pandemic has accelerated the use of digital tools and underscored the starkness of the digital divide. It is now more urgent than ever that we ensure that our recovery efforts are marked by inclusion, equity, resilience and sustainability, and that we employ all the tools at our disposal to do so. For Governments and the multilateral system, rapid technological change must be seen as an accelerator and a tool to bridge the divide in order to usher in a new industrial revolution across the globe, connecting billions of people who until now have been disconnected and disenfranchised. The Technology Facilitation Mechanism is one piece of the puzzle, as it endeavours to address new and emerging technologies and their impact on the SDGs. Similarly, the Interagency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs remains a crucial element in collecting data and channelling it into the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum, enabling Member States, United Nations entities and civil-society groups to make evidence-based decisions that have a direct impact on the delivery of SDG efforts. I am pleased to note that the Interagency Task Team has also prepared findings on the effects of rapid technological change on the SDGs that were presented in dedicated sessions of the Forum in 2018 and 2019, per General Assembly resolutions to that end. Looking ahead, an expert group will be presenting new findings during a dedicated session of the 2021 Forum on 5 May. It is hoped that those findings will assess rapid frontier technologies in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, while acknowledging lessons learned by countries that employed them in their pandemic response. As was said during yesterday’s debate, we are at an inflection point in history. How we choose to undertake recovery will shape the world for generations to come. Technological advancements are a strong and ever- changing tool in our efforts to combat poverty, empower women and girls and bring peace and stability to those in need. We must learn to leverage and harness those technologies everywhere if we are to make full use of them. In that regard, it is important to remember that technological advances are only as smart as the policies we have in place to harness them. I therefore urge Member States to reflect on those pertinent issues and to come forward with strong proposals and solutions, and I thank them for joining today’s discussion and for lending their support, ideas and solutions to the high- level debate on digital cooperation and connectivity.

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s meeting on the impact of rapid technological changes on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets. My delegation is also grateful for the very substantive high-level thematic debate on digital cooperation and connectivity convened just yesterday. The sweeping changes in technology have been tremendous, in scope as well as speed. They have affected all of us, as individuals, societies and nations. The pace of the fourth industrial revolution has expanded the avenues for increasing connectedness, bolstering productivity, realizing prosperity and advancing sustainable development. Furthermore, the coronavirus disease pandemic has put science, technology, and innovation at the forefront of human activities. Ranging from medical research and breakthroughs in vaccines to online learning models and adaptation in modes of work, modern technologies have contributed to mitigating hardships and containing the crisis to the extent possible. However, that has further entrenched already existing inequalities, by exposing the fact that the transformative impact of technological change has been a reality for only about half of the developing world’s population. The challenges facing manual labourers, service workers and a number of groups of vulnerable populations are further compounded. It is an unfortunate irony that the rapidity of change compares only with the extent of the gaping technological divide, widening further in the case of the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries and small island developing States. In that context, we would like to see the Technology Bank for the LDCs act as a well-resourced institution that can truly and massively help member States to utilize science and technology in their development endeavours. Against that backdrop, we must remember that the 2019 Global Sustainable Development Report recognizes technology as one of the four key transformative pathways to sustainable development. We must reverse the trend whereby technology tends to become a gap creator to turn it into a gap remover and a tool in achieving sustainable development. We must aim at narrowing the digital divide, embracing technological innovation and making technologies affordable and accessible to all. Advances in new technologies must be harnessed in order to accelerate SDG implementation, reduce inequalities among and within countries and enhance sustainability and the resilience needed to weather any future systemic shocks. Science and technology represent an important pillar in Nepal’s aspirations to achieve sustainable development. Our 2015 information and communications technology (ICT) policy and our 2019 Digital Nepal Framework and national science, technology and innovation policy all prioritize the use of technologies in achieving development ends. Those instruments put the sustainable utilization of natural resources, the development of human resources, environmental preservation and disaster reduction at their centre. The use of ICTs has led to visible progress in the fields of research, energy, public service delivery, education, information and communication. It has increased people’s participation in national affairs, enhanced their welfare and empowered them. Our Prime Minister recently launched Mero Kitta, an online service through which citizens can get land-related services without having to visit Government offices. Our plan is to provide 80 per cent of the population with access to ICT services by no later than 2025. In line with our plan to graduate from the LDC category in 2026, efforts are under way to enhance the use of technologies to bolster productivity, educational opportunities and health and social awareness, as well as the effective delivery of services and good governance. An enhanced level of international support and cooperation will be critical in that regard. In conclusion, I would like to stress that scaled-up development cooperation and the transfer of technology to the developing world to harness the power of technology are tools for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mexico is taking the floor in today’s debate because the impact of rapid technological change on the Sustainable Development Goals has never been greater than it is now. We would like to take this opportunity to discuss the progress made in implementing resolution 73/17. In the past few years there has been increasing interest from Member States and other interested parties alike in studying the impact of rapid technological change on sustainable development. We have held several debates on technology and a number of reports have been published on the issue. The most relevant report is the Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation (A/74/821), which includes recommendations on global connectivity, digital public goods, digital inclusion, digital capacity-building, artificial intelligence and more, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in the ongoing technological revolution. We welcome the fact that the Secretary-General has established the Office of the United Nations Envoy on Technology and that its work has already begun. It cannot be denied that advances in science, technology and innovation have spurred rapid technological change in recent years. Developments in cutting-edge technology have demonstrated immense potential for sustainable development. They include artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, biotechnology, macrodata, three-dimensional (3D) printing, blockchain technology and the Internet of Things. For example, when combined with robotics, artificial intelligence could make production and commercial processes more efficient, while 3D printing allows for faster and more economical low-volume production, as well as the speedy creation of new product prototypes. All those processes should be viewed from the perspective of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and their impact on the economy, environment and society should be measured. During the pandemic, artificial intelligence and macrodata were used to examine patients. We were able to trace and identify cases of the disease, predict its evolution and assess infection risks. We welcome the fact that science has already produced coronavirus disease vaccines. Nonetheless, we also remain concerned about the lack of equitable access to them. Countries and people do not adapt to these changes at the same pace. Not only has the pandemic exacerbated existing structural inequalities, it has also widened the digital divide. A total of 3.6 billion people, more than half of the world’s population, remain disconnected. The least developed countries are the least connected, with a mere 19 per cent of their populations online. Without cooperation for adapting to the changes, the digital divide will broaden, in particular in the least developed countries and among vulnerable people and marginalized groups. Technological adaptation is also marked by gender inequalities. Boys and men have received more encouragement and support than girls and women in studying technology and science or engineering and mathematics. Over the past 12 months, there has been a massive increase in the pace of online activities. Many of us have been able to adjust, but, regrettably, many have been left behind. It is therefore important to consider how we can keep up with the pace of rapid technological change if a major segment of the population does not even have access to the Internet. Today digital inclusion for everyone is more essential than ever before. Access to the Internet and to devices must be equitable and secure and requires the necessary digital skills. Technologies on their own are not the solution to today’s ills. They must be used to ensure our collective well-being. Our delegation listened closely to the statements delivered during yesterday’s high-level debate on digital cooperation and connectivity and will pay similar attention at the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum next week. Based on those dialogues and multilateral forums, and in response to the call you just made, Mr. President, Mexico will submit a draft resolution entitled “Impact of rapid technological change on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets” that seeks to consider progress and pending issues related to this agenda item within the United Nations system. Over the past two years, we have also seen a multilateral response to the issue that should be led by Member States. The draft text will go above and beyond technology alone. We will seek to focus specifically on adapting to rapid technological change and its overall practical implications for the 2030 Agenda. The negotiations will be open, inclusive and transparent. In addition, the fact that negotiations will take place in a virtual format demonstrates how we have all had to adapt at Headquarters. We encourage all member States to participate constructively in the coming days to shape a comprehensive vision on rapid technological change.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s important and timely meeting. The pandemic has given fresh impetus to the digital transformation already under way in many areas of work, education, innovation and service delivery. Rapid technological change has played a key role in managing the impact of the pandemic and facilitating economic recovery. It is playing a key role in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But at the same time it has also exposed inequalities and vulnerabilities that are likely to be exacerbated in the process, due to the digital divide. In that context, I would like to share three pertinent points. First, closing the digital divide is an endeavour that can be accomplished when done jointly. We need to strengthen international and multi-stakeholder cooperation to enhance local capacity and advance digital inclusion. Among other things, the multi-stakeholder approach should be focused on developing and improving access to high-quality digital infrastructure, supporting business models that will lead to job creation and workforce digitalization, facilitating digital access for micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, improving affordable and indiscriminate access to digital technologies and economies, including in rural areas, and enabling technology transfers and the sharing of best practices for business models. Secondly, we must optimize technology by promoting and enabling an inclusive science, technology and innovation ecosystem. As a key means of implementing the SDGs, such an effective and inclusive system is indeed crucial. It is therefore necessary to design policies that improve societies’ adaptive capacities and ensure that the benefits of the new technologies are enjoyed by all. That includes the improvement of digital skills and literacy. Appropriate funding is also needed to build hard infrastructure and improve digital access through the provision of electricity and affordable connectivity. Thirdly, we should mitigate the adverse impact of technology and promote responsible behaviour in cyberspace. We must address negative consequences of technology such as labour displacement and concerns about inequalities, privacy and cybersecurity. We also need to overcome the spread of misinformation and disinformation on the coronavirus disease pandemic, which can hamper effective public health responses. The impact of rapid technological change on the achievement of the SDGs is one of the key areas that Indonesia will look into during the discussion, as co-Chair of this year’s Science, Technology and Innovation Forum. Indonesia is committed to working closely with the Assembly and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the discussion will bring about a constructive and concrete outcome. Indonesia considers digital inclusiveness to be a vital tool for optimizing the use of science, technology and innovation towards the achievement of sustainable development. I encourage everyone to be actively engaged in this year’s Forum and its follow-up.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item. The General Assembly has concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 136. I invite the attention of the General Assembly to draft resolution A/75/L.76, circulated under agenda item 24, entitled “Eradication of poverty and other development issues”. Members will recall that the General Assembly concluded its consideration of agenda item 24 at its 48th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2020. In order for the Assembly to take action on the draft resolution, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of agenda item 24. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to reopen consideration of agenda item 24?

Members will also recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 18 September 2020, the General Assembly decided to allocate agenda item 24 to the Second Committee. To enable the Assembly to take action expeditiously on the document, may I take it that the Assembly wishes to consider agenda item 24 directly in plenary meeting and proceed immediately to its consideration? It was so decided (decision 75/504B).

I now give the floor to the representative of Bangladesh to introduce draft resolution A/75/L.76.

On behalf of Ireland, Bangladesh and 67 other sponsors, I have the honour to introduce the first-ever draft resolution on global drowning prevention. Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason and I thank all delegations for their valuable contribution and support in finalizing the draft text. The draft resolution is proposed under agenda item 24, “Eradication of poverty and other development issues”, and is contained in document A/75/L.76. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 67 Member States, as of the latest count, that have sponsored this important draft resolution, and we sincerely hope that more will now join them before its adoption. It is critical to convey a strong message from the General Assembly about its unequivocal support for efforts to prevent drowning globally. I would also like to thank the Group of Friends on Drowning Prevention, which has provided key support in advancing this effort over the past two years, while generating awareness and action on a silent and preventable killer. Furthermore, I want to place on record our deep appreciation to the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for their support and cooperation throughout the process. In the past decade alone, more than 2.5 million lives were needlessly lost to water — infants slipping silently into ponds, fathers never returning from fishing trips, sisters submerged on their way to school — representing wasted lives and preventable deaths on an epidemic scale. Drowning is a major and neglected cause of global mortality, with 235,000 lives lost every year, 650 every day, 26 every hour. Those are astounding, staggering figures. Annually, drowning accounts for more lives lost than maternal mortality or malnutrition. It is an issue without geographic borders or boundaries. Anyone can drown, anywhere. It affects every nation of the world, some more dramatically and inequitably than others. More than 90 per cent of deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. The highest rates are recorded in Africa and the greatest numbers across Asia, with children and young people representing a majority of lives lost — our future. Despite its global burden, drowning is regarded as a silent epidemic, unrecognized and underresourced relative to its impact. The imperative to act on drowning is not simply moral or political. The economic cost is equally untenable. The global cost is estimated at $146 billion annually and affects mostly low-income countries. Drowning is therefore not just an injury but an inequity. All is not lost, however. We can still address the trend if we act now. Every drowning death is preventable through tested, low-cost solutions, and action on drowning presents us with an opportunity to advance several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, drowning prevention can catalyse progress in ending preventable mortality for children under five, particularly in countries where drowning is a leading cause of childhood death. Drowning prevention can protect hard-won gains and investment in immunization, nutrition and education, which is sadly lost to the water with every young life. There are also links to achieving progress on other SDGs if we take action on this avoidable loss of life, including on Goals 5, 6, 10, 11 and 13. My own country, Bangladesh, is on the front lines in the fight against drowning. Bangladesh’s own journey of recognition and response to the issue has continued for well over a decade. I am happy to report that we are making progress, as are several of our neighbours in the region that like us have suffered from a serious drowning burden, especially among our children. We are making progress with the development of a national drowning prevention plan and in taking action at the community level in developing, testing and adapting interventions that can and do save lives at a relatively low cost. We are doing it by ensuring that young children are supervised and kept safe around water by caregivers; barriers or fencing are installed around open water sources such as ponds and wells; young children have the opportunity to learn swimming skills that may save their lives; community members can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid if the worst happens and, crucially, that communities are aware that drowning is preventable and not to be feared. We are starting to see some success. More can certainly be done, and we are committed to acting now. We know others also share that urgency and ambition, nationally, regionally and internationally, and the significant support for draft resolution A/75/L.76 is testament to that. Our joint leadership on the draft resolution with Ireland, itself an island nation familiar with both the promise and risk that water presents, demonstrates that by working together across regions and risk profiles, progress on drowning prevention is possible. The text before us includes some editorial amendments made by the Secretariat. They do not affect the content or substance of the draft resolution. We would like to sincerely thank all Member States for their constructive approach and flexibility in reaching this point and for their important contributions throughout the consultation process. The final draft of the resolution contains 15 preambular paragraphs and seven operative paragraphs. In the preambular section we express concern about the magnitude of the problem and the fact that it has largely remained unrecognized and note that drowning is a social equity issue. We recall key agreements such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the political declaration on universal health coverage and the relevant resolutions of the World Health Assembly, as well as other major global frameworks, including the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the New Urban Agenda. Among other things, the operative paragraphs invite and encourage Member States, within the context of their national condition, to appoint national focal points for drowning prevention, develop national prevention plans, policies and programmes, enact and enforce national laws, generate and amplify awareness campaigns, support international and regional cooperation and promote research and development in the area of drowning prevention. The draft resolution also decides to proclaim 25 July as World Drowning Prevention Day, to be observed globally every year on a voluntary basis. We invite the World Health Organization to facilitate the observance, which would provide an opportunity to commemorate lives lost and accelerate life-saving solutions to bring Governments, United Nations agencies, civil society, drowning prevention practitioners and communities together, while recognizing that drowning is indeed preventable through collective action. We would like to reiterate our hope that the draft resolution will pave the way for increased awareness about preventing drowning and, most important, for cooperation and collaboration at national, regional and global levels. We can no longer bear witness to the loss of precious lives to water when solutions exist, and the political will is now evident. Drowning and its prevention have been entirely absent from the first 75 years of United Nations activity. But this year we redress that glaring gap. Draft resolution A/75/L.76 represents long overdue recognition of a major cause of mortality and the solutions and opportunity that exist to address it. On behalf of Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason and myself, I would like to sincerely thank everyone for the support, and we hope that the General Assembly will adopt the draft resolution by overwhelming consensus today.

We shall now proceed to take action on draft resolution A/75/L.76, entitled “Global drowning prevention”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that since the submission of draft resolution A/75/L.76, and in addition to the delegations listed in the document, the following countries have become sponsors of the draft resolution: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, the Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, the Niger, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution A/75/L.76?

Before giving the floor for explanations of position after adoption, I would like to I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I give the floor to the representative of the United States.

The United States is pleased to join the consensus on the adoption of resolution 75/273 on global drowning prevention. With respect to references to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, I refer the Assembly to our global explanation of position delivered 1 September 2015 (see A/69/PV.101).

We have heard the only speaker in explanation of position after adoption. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 24?

Members will recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 18 September 2020, the General Assembly decided to allocate agenda item 98 to the First Committee. In order to enable the Assembly to take action expeditiously on the report of the Committee (A/75/250), may I take it that the Assembly wishes to consider agenda item 98 directly in plenary meeting and proceed immediately to its consideration? It was so decided (decision 75/504B).

The General Assembly will now resume its consideration of agenda item 98 to take action on draft decision A/75/L.79. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote or position, I would like to remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

We reiterate our sincere thanks to Ambassador Lauber, Chair of the Open-ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security, for his guidance on our path towards achieving a hard-won consensus, which enabled us to endorse the Open-ended Working Group’s report (see A/75/816) on 12 March. The Working Group made it possible for us to arrive at a unique, inclusive and transparent process whereby all Member States could participate on an equal footing in the debates on a topic that is becoming ever more important at the international level. While we acknowledge the flexibility and commitment shown by most delegations and the Chair’s successful efforts to include every point of view, the report failed to meet all our expectations. We note the changes made in paragraphs 3, 7 and 9 on the complementarity of specialized forums and in paragraph 10 on the recognition of States’ fundamental responsibilities. Furthermore, while we appreciate the inclusion of references to the development of information and communications technologies (ICT) capabilities for military purposes in paragraph 16, we believe that the topic could be clarified in future documents, as it represents a real and potential threat. With regard to rules, norms and principles for responsible behaviour of States, we consider the development of new rules a high priority. We note, however, that some parts of the report place excessive emphasis on the issue of the application of ICTs. The development of ICTs and the increasing threats linked to their malicious use, which are acknowledged in the report, demonstrate the need for regulatory frameworks to be developed in parallel with the technological advances, together with legally binding obligations and commitments. In that regard, we reiterate the importance of adopting a legally binding instrument that will enable us to face the challenges and lack of legal precedent in the area of cybersecurity. Although we recognize the inclusion of certain legally binding obligations in the final observations section of the report, we would have preferred to have them reflected in the section on international law. That is one of many Member States’ expectations that could be discussed in depth in the new Open-ended Working Group in its role in addressing cybersecurity. In the section covering international law, we appreciate the consistent focus on the need for a common understanding as a basis for building consensus. However, we were disappointed by the removal of the only mention in the text of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. While we appreciate the wording in paragraph 34 calling on States to refrain from taking any action not in accordance with international law and the Charter, we would have preferred that the report make specific reference to unilateral coercive measures in that section, as they are a reality that faces many of our countries and limits their technological development. Despite changes in the section on capacity-building, no stress was placed on the importance of cooperation without discrimination in full observance of the sovereignty of States, which is a priority for developing countries. Looking ahead to future negotiations in the new Open-ended Working Group, we must recognize the interests and requirements of all countries with genuine proportionality and make conscious efforts in that regard. To that end, it will be imperative to conduct negotiations paragraph by paragraph, which will help to facilitate reaching a consensus within the Open-ended Working Group established pursuant to resolution 75/240. Cuba will remain fully committed to the exclusively peaceful uses of ICTs. We will therefore reject any attempt to legitimize the militarization of outer space and the covert or overt hostile use of information and communications technologies to subvert the political and legal systems of States.

I have taken the floor to explain my delegation’s position on draft decision A/75/L.79, on the final report (see A/75/816, annex I) of the Open-ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security. The Islamic Republic of Iran supports this first-ever multilateral, inclusive, unique, democratic and historic process on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security. Beginning with the Open-ended Working Group’s first substantive session and during the intersessional process up to its third and last session, Iran presented its submissions while explaining the rationale behind its proposals. During the process, we specified our genuine concerns and itemized the issues that represented our red lines, including respecting the sovereignty of States; refraining from the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to interfere in the internal affairs of States; ensuring accountability for platforms and transnational corporations; avoiding action-oriented recommendations without due attention to these principles; working to codify and implement a legally binding instrument and developing current international law, as well as additional norms for responsible State behaviour; ensuring the non-compulsory designation of repositories; applying ethics and justice to ICT issues; encouraging responsible behaviour by non-State actors, including digital platforms, in order to ensure and facilitate the cooperation of related digital platforms and transnational corporations with States; ensuring the application of ICTs exclusively for peaceful purposes; rejecting any justification for the threat or use of force using ICTs; and last but not least, ensuring the equal status of all national initiatives within the next Open- ended Working Group. We specified on a number of occasions that Iran would never consider it admissible to cross those red lines. Regrettably, however, despite our numerous calls for ensuring that the final report reflected the views of all, not just a single group of Member States, it failed to take our views and demands into account, as was also the case with the proposals from the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. We hoped that the report would satisfy all Member States and garner an uncontested consensus. However, viewing the situation from a strategic and long-term perspective, the Islamic Republic of Iran, while disappointed with the parts of the report it finds unacceptable, would be unhappy to see this global process end up a failure or deadlocked. I would therefore like to state that our position, as expressed in the Working Group’s third substantive session, remains valid, and to say once again that after formally registering its objection to certain parts of the report and expressing its grave concern about the causes underlying that unacceptable situation, my delegation would like to make it clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not block the consensus on the report. However, given the unacceptable content of certain parts of the report, we have no choice but to dissociate ourselves from any part of the report that does not match our positions as described in the deliberations of the current session of the Open-ended Working Group. The Islamic Republic of Iran therefore has no obligation under any term, content, paragraph, conclusion or recommendation of the report that is not in line with its principled positions.

We would like today to acknowledge the valuable efforts made by Ambassador Jürg Lauber and his team in leading us on a path to reaching consensus in exceptional conditions during a two-year process, which enabled countries large and small to exchange ideas and proposals on an equal footing and realize our collective ownership of the Open-ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security. We would like to give full credit to Russia and all the countries that advocated the genesis of this unique, historic, inclusive and transparent platform. When our delegation began taking an active part in the Group’s consultative meetings, we knew from the start that we were undertaking an ambitious process in which the pursuit of perfection would hinder the attainment of positive results. But with political will, we succeeded in finding the balance that enabled a multilateral achievement that should be emulated and replicated within the United Nations, given the significance of a topic that encounters new challenges every day. Our delegation, which joined the consensus, is grateful for the flexibility and commitment shown by a majority of delegations. It will be crucial to ensure in future negotiations in the new Open-Ended Working Group that the proposals by the States of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, as well as Cuba, Russia, China and Iran, be taken into account, along with the interests and demands of all countries. We believe that it will be crucial to conduct negotiations paragraph by paragraph, which will facilitate consensus-building in the Open-ended Working Group established pursuant to resolution 75/240. Our delegation would like once again to congratulate all delegations on the constructive spirit that enabled the negotiations to be held in an inclusive environment, and to commend Ambassador Lauber for his wise leadership during the process, despite the complexities involved. Nicaragua reiterates its commitment to the work of the Group and expresses its satisfaction with the final consensus result.

The Venezuelan delegation thanks Ambassador Jürg Lauber, the Permanent Representative of Switzerland, in his capacity as Chair of the Open-ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security, and his entire team for facilitating negotiations in an atmosphere of cordiality, inclusiveness and transparency. We are also grateful to the Secretariat for its support throughout the process. The work begun in 2018 and concluded today has demonstrated that the Open-ended Group has served as a democratic and inclusive platform for advancing our discussions on information and communications in the context of international security in a transparent and equitable manner. Our delegation participated in the process throughout the deliberations in its national capacity and as a member of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. Unfortunately, as we said at the third and last session held in March, the final text of the report (see A/75/816, annex I) failed to take account of some of the diverse views of the membership. With regard to specific issues, I would like to note that the development of information and communications technologies (ICT) military capacities could have been appropriately covered. With regard to addressing the malicious use of ICTs, we continue to believe that new norms and principles concerning the responsible behaviour of States should be established and that they should entail binding commitments and obligations. We regret that the report did not include a reference to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. At a time when the international community is attempting to establish the norms of behaviour in cyberspace, the application of international law to States’ use of ICTs cannot be divorced from various principles, including the sovereign equality of States, the peaceful settlement of disputes and refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of States and from intervening in States’ internal affairs. These constitute a basic point that must be addressed in the future. We note with concern that since the Open-ended Working Group began its work, unilateral coercive measures related to the use of information and communication technologies have increased worldwide. Far from facilitating a peaceful environment in cyberspace, such misnamed measures are fuelling further escalation. That is why our delegation regrets that the report did not include any specific mention of the use of unilateral coercive measures, despite repeated requests by various States concerning the issue. Venezuela joins the group of countries that deem it appropriate to automatically invoke Article 51 of the Charter in the area of information and telecommunications in the context of international security and that advocate the peaceful use of information and communications technologies. We should create a similar section of the report with regard to international humanitarian law and human rights law. My delegation understands the difficulties involved in finding a balance among the membership’s positions. We realize that no balance is perfect. We understand that all the parties would have preferred more, and we are aware that we could not include all of the proposals in the document. Without wanting to compromise our principled positions, which we have repeatedly voiced and which are shared by several delegations, we are therefore committed to achieving a consensus-oriented outcome. For those reasons, while bearing in mind the future work mandated by resolution 75/240, the delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has decided to support draft decision A/75/L.79.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position before adoption. The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/75/L.79, entitled “Report of the Open-ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of international Security established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 73/27 of 5 December 2018”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft decision?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 98?

I now give the floor to the representative of Qatar to introduce draft resolution A/75/L.81.

It is my pleasure to introduce draft resolution A/75/L.81, entitled “International Day of Women Judges”, under agenda item 14, entitled “Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields”. The State of Qatar facilitated the negotiations on the draft resolution and drafted its text. Since its introduction the following countries have joined the list of sponsors: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Botswana, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Zambia. I would like to take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation and gratitude for their contributions and cooperation to all delegations that participated in the informal consultations on the draft resolution. I note that Qatar’s initiative in designating an International Day of Women Judges originated at the second high-level meeting of the Global Judicial Integrity Network of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), hosted by Qatar between 25 and 27 February 2020. The pioneer initiative aims to celebrate the International Day under the auspices of the United Nations in order to promote the role of women in the judicial area in enhancing the rule of law. The draft resolution notes that 10 March will be celebrated every year as the International Day of Women Judges. It represents an annual opportunity to reassert the importance of women’s participation in public institutions, including the judiciary, and the international community’s commitment to taking participatory and representative decisions at all levels to require gender balance. The draft resolution also refers to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and specifically to the issues of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, which can contribute significantly to achieving progress in realizing all the Sustainable Development Goals and targets. It also stresses the gender perspective, which is a significant element in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The draft resolution notes that a relatively small number of women have been judges, including in senior positions. It also notes with appreciation the work of UNODC’s Global Judicial Integrity Network on incorporating women’s representation issues into judicial systems. And it stresses that the active participation of women on an equal footing with men in decision-making at all levels is essential to achieving equality, sustainable development, peace and democracy. The draft resolution also emphasizes the commitment to implementing suitable and effective national strategies and plans in order to raise the status of women in judiciary systems and institutions at leadership and senior administrative levels. It calls on all Member States, the entities of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations, the international community and relevant stakeholders to celebrate the International Day of Women Judges every year in the most appropriate way for enhancing women’s full participation on an equal footing with men and at all levels in the judiciary. In conclusion, I would like once again to express my thanks to the Member States that took part in submitting the draft resolution, and we look forward to seeing every other State join them. We are confident that the draft resolution enjoys consensus, and we also hope that it will be adopted by consensus at today’s meeting.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/75/L.81, entitled “ International Day of Women Judges”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that since the submission of draft resolution A/75/L.81 and in addition to the delegations listed in the document, the following countries have also become sponsors: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Botswana, Cameroon, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, the Niger, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Zambia.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/75/L.81?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 14.

I now give the floor to the representative of Guyana to introduce draft resolution A/75/L.80 on behalf of the Caribbean Community.

On behalf of the 14 member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/75/L.80, entitled “Solidarity with and support for the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as neighbouring countries affected by the impact of the eruptions of La Soufrière volcano”, under sub-item (a) of agenda item 73, “Strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations”. The draft resolution expresses deep concern about the serious consequences of the explosive eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines since 9 April, which have resulted in the displacement of residents and the loss of their livelihoods, food security and nutrition, health security and access to social infrastructure, and about the urgent need to restore normal conditions for the population. For more than two weeks, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been in the throes of a series of explosive volcanic eruptions on the island of Saint Vincent, in a crisis of historic proportions. Nearly one fifth of the island’s population has had to be evacuated from the immediate disaster area, which covers approximately one third of the island. The ongoing explosive volcanic eruptions are compounded by the multidimensional challenges of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and come before what has been predicted to be an active hurricane season, which begins in a few weeks. Those are all severe shocks beyond domestic control and a demonstration of the vulnerability of small island developing States. The draft resolution presented to the Assembly today notes the elevated public-health risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus among people who have been offered refuge both within and beyond the national territory of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It further underlines the special needs and challenges of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the neighbouring countries involved, and welcomes the generous and immediate assistance that has been provided by CARICOM members and other neighbouring Member States, as well as other States and national, regional and international organizations, particularly those in the United Nations system. The draft resolution invites the international community to continue its relief efforts and increase its support, and encourages international financial institutions and organizations to continue to contribute and respond generously for the duration of the emergency and the rehabilitation process in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as in the neighbouring countries affected. It also requests the Secretary-General to support the rehabilitation efforts to the extent of his authority. Finally, the 14 member States of CARICOM would like to sincerely thank the 158 delegations that at last count have sponsored the draft resolution for their overwhelming support.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/75/L.80, entitled “Solidarity with and support for the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as neighbouring countries affected by the impact of the eruptions of La Soufrière volcano”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that since the submission of draft resolution A/75/L.80 and in addition to the delegations listed in the document, the following countries have also become sponsors: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, the Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, the Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, the Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Romania, the Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, the Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/75/L.80?

I now give the floor to delegations wishing to make statements after adoption.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to all Member States for their invaluable support for resolution 75/275, entitled “Solidarity with and support for the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as neighbouring countries affected by the impact of the eruptions of La Soufrière volcano”, which was just unanimously adopted by the General Assembly with some 174 sponsors. I also want to express our heartfelt appreciation to the Permanent Representative of Guyana, Her Excellency Mrs. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) caucus, for introducing the resolution on behalf of CARICOM and for her personal outreach efforts. I am also very grateful to you for your efforts, Madam Vice-President, as her immediate predecessor as Chair of the CARICOM caucus and as Permanent Representative of Grenada. We especially thank the entire group of Latin American and Caribbean countries for their familial solidarity. Indeed, all of the Americas have rallied to our cause, and we say thank you. Since 9 April, as we just heard, our nation has been confronted by a series of explosive volcanic eruptions that have wreaked havoc on our way of life and economy. Nearly one fifth of the island’s population has been evacuated to safer areas and we are now faced with the monumental challenge of humanitarian relief, recovery and reconstruction. Amid those immense challenges, which are further compounded by the coronavirus disease pandemic and have emerged on the eve of the Atlantic hurricane season, the support and solidarity of the international community are critical to our State and people. We welcome the launch of the United Nations global funding appeal for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and its neighbours and are profoundly grateful for the support pledged. Without the immediate and sustained solidarity of the United Nations, our regional and subregional organizations, neighbours and countries near and far, our life and living would be completely unbearable. We thank them. The United Nations and its agencies have been actively at work. The Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Regional Security System, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, the Association of Caribbean States and the allied regional agencies have been at the forefront with their magnificent efforts. We acknowledge and emphasize the support from the Member States in the Americas that have rallied and continue to rally to our cause, as have many others in the wider international community. It is important to note that within 24 hours of the first set of explosive eruptions, my Prime Minister received a personal call from Secretary-General António Guterres. Two days after that, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, based in Barbados, 100 miles east of Saint Vincent, arrived by boat because the airspace was closed, in a credit to the new reforms. In conclusion, we again thank the members of the international community for their solidarity and reiterate our strong commitment to working with Governments, intergovernmental and regional organizations, international financial institutions and the private sector in the recovery process of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as the neighbouring countries affected by the impact of the eruptions of La Soufrière.

When the La Soufrière volcano erupted with apocalyptic fury two weeks ago, it set off a chain reaction, spurring a crisis within a crisis. More than 13,000 people were forced to flee. Their displacement has caused further anguish to a region already struggling to combat the coronavirus disease pandemic. And worse, as the Assembly has heard today, the start of the Atlantic hurricane season raises the possibility of a triple crisis as the volcano continues to erupt. We must act now, together, to meet the $29.2 million fundraising goal of the United Nations and bring relief to the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. We are proud to be a sponsor of resolution 75/275 and to join the consensus on it today. We stand with the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and with their Government, which is a strong partner in the Security Council. In addition to our words, we show our solidarity through action. After United States Ambassador Taglialatela declared the situation a disaster on 9 April, the United States Agency for International Development gave an initial $100,000 to the Red Cross to distribute emergency food assistance and relief to affected households. Our National Aeronautics and Space Administration gave $150,000 in aid and provided expertise, logistics, analysis and recovery support. The United States also gave funds to support evacuation efforts and provide immediate relief, from food and safe drinking water to volcano monitoring equipment. That is just the start of what will be a long-term response. Those actions represent our firm commitment to our friends in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and to humanitarian action. We support disaster risk reduction to help countries prevent the worst disasters and address them when they happen. We support technical cooperation with other nations to ensure that our efforts are as efficient and effective as possible. We will always be ready to provide humanitarian assistance and will urge others to do the same, based on the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. When we work together, when we take a multi-stakeholder, multi-hazard approach to disaster response, we can save lives. We can save entire communities. That is what we are here to do for our friends in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and our hearts go out to the people. We are proud to be part of this effort.

It feels particularly propitious to have you, Madam Vice-President, in the Chair for this agenda item. I would like to thank the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the CARICOM delegation for bringing today’s important resolution to the General Assembly. The United Kingdom is also pleased to be a sponsor of resolution 75/275. And I thank Ambassador King for that disturbing but also inspiring statement. The United Kingdom stands with the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at this difficult time. The eruption has wrought devastation and human misery and the situation requires our sustained attention as the volcano’s state of active eruption continues. In disasters of this kind, the United Kingdom’s approach has a key principle at its heart, which is that early action saves lives. We therefore acted quickly to provide vital support to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, which enabled the immediate mobilization of regional support teams and urgent supplies for the initial relief effort. This month we have given $1 million to the World Food Programme to help approximately 13,000 people displaced by the volcano meet their immediate nutrition, hygiene and other essential needs for the next three months. For all of us here, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to which the United Kingdom is a major donor, has played a vital role in the initial response, providing water, sanitation and hygiene support. The CERF works and we should all contribute to it. Alongside that emergency support, the United Kingdom has an ongoing programme of development assistance to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines totalling more than $55 million, which will make a critical contribution to the country’s long-term recovery from the eruption and which includes funding for critical infrastructure projects, upgrades of healthcare facilities and support for disaster management systems, green energy and youth employment programmes. As we have just heard from Ambassador King, this is an overwhelming challenge for the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. One need only look at the aerial photographs to understand the devastation and helplessness that some people must feel at the scale of that challenge. In particular, with the Atlantic hurricane season ahead, that could turn to despair, which would be completely understandable. But when we in this Hall come together as a global community to stand with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to face that challenge, it becomes less daunting. Let us all follow up our sponsorship with our friendship and a strong show of financial and expert support.

It is a pleasure to see you presiding over our work, Madam Vice-President. At the outset, I would like to thank the member States of the Caribbean Community for resolution 75/275, which is extremely important. The Kingdom of Morocco welcomes its adoption by consensus and its large number of sponsors, including Morocco. I would also like to express the Kingdom of Morocco’s full solidarity with and support for the Government and the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as those of neighbouring countries, following the disastrous eruption of the La Soufrière volcano. Regrettably, this natural disaster continues to have damaging effects on the life of the people of Saint Vincent and Grenadines and the other countries of the region that have been affected, especially in the areas of economic and social development, population displacement, access to infrastructure and food security. The mix of dangerous effects of the natural disaster, compounded by those of the coronavirus disease pandemic, will have a serious impact on the considerable and laudable efforts of Saint Vincent and Grenadines and other countries of the region to fully achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, the Kingdom of Morocco therefore calls for large-scale multidimensional assistance for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the countries of the region to address the impact of this natural disaster. We call in particular on the United Nations and its agencies, regional and subregional organizations, international and regional financial institutions, development banks and bilateral donors to make generous and rapid contributions in support of the efforts of the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to address the disaster and ensure economic and social recovery. Morocco is engaged in multidimensional partnerships with Saint Vincent and Grenadines and the countries of the region generally within a productive and active South-South cooperation framework. We will remain at their side during this difficult time and continue to spare no effort in support of their socioeconomic sustainable development based on their priorities.

We have heard the last speaker on this agenda item. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 73.

I now give the floor to the representative of Tajikistan to introduce draft resolution A/75/L.78.

On behalf of the member States of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)  — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation and my own country, Tajikistan — I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/75/L.78, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization”. The draft resolution is a technical rollover from the previous version, resolution 73/331, which was adopted by consensus on 25 July 2019. We wanted to accommodate the concerns of member States as much as possible, because the most important element for us is consensus, and an overwhelming majority supported the idea of adopting the draft as a technical rollover from the previous resolution. That is why the CSTO member States decided not to include new language. We reached consensus on the draft resolution and are grateful to all Member States for their active participation, constructive approach and flexibility in the process of agreeing on it. We count on their continued support so that we can again adopt this draft resolution by consensus, as was the case during previous sessions. The draft resolution stresses the importance of continuing to strive for a world free of terrorism, including through the comprehensive implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. Noting the various initiatives by member States and regional organizations in that regard, it invites the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization to continue their interaction in the interests of the consistent and comprehensive implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It also invites increased cooperation and coordination among the specialized agencies and programmes of the United Nations system and the CSTO, and the development of those direct contacts in areas of mutual interest. Finally, it encourages both organizations to continue to examine possible ways to further strengthen their interaction in the area of peacekeeping. Since the signing of the Collective Security Treaty, the CSTO has been transformed into a multifunctional structure with the potential for providing an adequate response to a wide range of threats and challenges within the area of its responsibility. It is committed to continuing to act in line with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and it has become an essential organization for addressing security, in all its dimensions, in the region. We are convinced that strengthening the cooperation between the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization is important for promoting the goals and objectives of the United Nations. In conclusion, on behalf of the CSTO member States, I would like to thank the representatives of all Member States for their active participation throughout the process of agreeing on the draft resolution and to express our appreciation to the delegations that have already become sponsors. We invite those that have not yet joined the list of sponsors to do so now.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/75/L.78. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote or position, I would like to remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Today is a very sad day for international law and international relations. Today, the United Nations, which was established to maintain international peace and security and to develop friendly relations among States, will endorse its cooperation with the Russian-led military bloc, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which has become a clear example of the destructive policy tools that Russia employs in the region. This is the organization that failed to take adequate steps to respond to Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine and Georgia, thereby contributing to Russia’s imperialistic goals and priorities. It is sad that we must be reminded of that today, after Russia’s provocative military build-up on Ukraine’s borders, its most recent illegal restrictions on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and its aggressive actions towards some members of the European Union. Ukraine supports cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, which is an important tool for the effective settlement of conflicts and the promotion of peace and security. The CSTO is not an organization that serves that purpose. Taking that into account, Ukraine cannot support draft resolution A/75/L.78 and therefore dissociates itself from the consensus on the draft. We will vote against it if a recorded vote is requested.

We have heard the only speaker in explanation of position. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/75/L.78, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization”. I 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 the delegations listed in the document, Angola and Senegal have become sponsors of draft resolution A/75/L.78.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/75/L.78?

Before giving the floor for explanations of position after adoption, I would again like to remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

We value the cooperation between the United Nations and the various regional organizations and would like to thank the representative of Tajikistan for introducing resolution 75/276, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization”. We believe firmly that such cooperation is more effective when there is full alignment with the Charter of the United Nations and with international law. To ensure consistency in the draft resolutions introduced at the General Assembly, it is important that the language used in referring to international crimes be aligned with that used in the legal instruments that codify those crimes. In that regard and considering the language used in operative paragraph 2 of the resolution, Mexico would like to point to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, as well as two of its three supplementary protocols  — the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air. Using the same verb — “combat” — when addressing irregular migration and the illicit trafficking in drugs, weapons and persons is not consistent with the additional supplementary protocols or recently agreed international commitments on those issues. It is therefore important to underscore that the smuggling of migrants is not the same as trafficking in persons. The crimes are different, which is why there are separate protocols. I repeat that it is important to stress that the smuggling of migrants is not the same as trafficking in persons. They are two distinct crimes and, as such, have separate protocols, which call for different responses. In addition, not all irregular migration is due to the smuggling of migrants. That is why Mexico disagrees with the wording in paragraph 2 of the resolution we adopted today. Confusing international migration with the smuggling of migrants places international migration on the same footing as threats to international peace and security such as terrorism and the illicit trade in weapons. In addition, with regard to references to the world drug problem, we stress that the outcomes of the special session of the General Assembly in 2016 also consider the issue through the prisms of health and full respect for human rights. Mexico will continue supporting international cooperation efforts with regional organizations and advocating strict adherence to international law.

Georgia would like to thank the Permanent Mission of Tajikistan for leading the consultations on resolution 75/276. Georgia is a staunch supporter of United Nations cooperation with regional organizations as an efficient way to promote the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and contribute to international peace and security. Nevertheless, we believe that the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has not become part of the system of regional organizations acting for a shared purpose. In particular, we believe that the CSTO’s efforts to provide an adequate response to a wide range of threats and challenges within the area of its responsibility do not serve that goal. As a founding member of our Organization, the Russian Federation has pursued an aggressive policy towards its neighbours, violated their sovereignty and territorial integrity and continued the illegal occupation, militarization and annexation of parts of their territories. We nevertheless engaged in consultations on the draft text in a positive spirit, providing amendments to the text. It is regrettable that the majority of our proposals, which are of critical importance, were not reflected in the final text, and for that reason we wish to dissociate ourselves from the consensus on the resolution.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (t) of agenda item 130?