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Fifth Committee Report

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64th SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

REPORTS & ANALYSES

DPI report on Fifth Committee's plenary session on 24 December 2009
- Fifth Committee approved $5.16 billion for 2010-2011 programme/regular budget
- Scale of assessments for regular budget will remain the same for now but should be urgently reviewed. The next decision on the scale should be agreed to before the end of the 66th session.
- Many other agenda items deferred

Finding agreement on Member States’ assessments complicates budget approval
Before the end of the year, the Fifth Committee is faced with making some major decisions. Approval of the 2010-2011 programme budget is expected to be an especially arduous task, unlikely to be resolved until the very end of the deliberations. Potentially complicating the budget negotiations further is the apparent difficulty in reaching agreement on the methodologies to be used to determine Member States' assessments - both for the regular budget and peacekeeping.

63rd SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

REPORTS & ANALYSES

Report from the Department of Public Information on closing plenary of the Fifth Committee
The Fifth Committee agreed to resolutions on Human Resources Management and Administration of Justice among other issues, relaying concerns that too many issues would have to be deferred.

Report of the Fifth Committee – October & November 2008
by Emanuel Evans and Lydia Swart, 1 December 2008
The Fifth Committee is scheduled to meet from 3 October to 12 December 2008. Considering its heavy workload, the late issuance of certain documents, and the regretfully all too predictable disagreements among Member States, it is likely that the session will take longer than anticipated – an increasingly common occurrence in the Fifth Committee. The following provides an overview of a number of issues on the agenda and also attempts to summarize some of the proceedings so far, highlighting the dynamics among Member States as well as between Member States and the Secretariat.

Scale of Assessments – An Overview of Methodology Proposals by Member States
by Emanuel Evans, 18 November 2008
In the Fifth Committee, delegates are considering a draft resolution on the scale of assessments which contains a variety of proposals and models from Member States in regard to the methodology used to determine Member States’ dues for the period 2010-2012. The following provides an analysis as well as a chart comparing the various proposals as per draft resolution dated 10 November 2008, Rev. 3. A decision on which model to use would be made during the main session of the 64th General Assembly.

62nd SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

REPORTS & ANALYSES

Update on the Second Resumed Session
Every May, the Fifth Committee approves the annual budgets of peacekeeping missions. This time, it took two weeks longer than anticipated, but the Fifth Committee finally approved a package of 7.08 billion USD for 15 peacekeeping missions as well as the UN’s Logistics Base and the Support Account. Following is a description of some of the key issues discussed and decisions made.

Analysis: The Governance Crisis in the Fifth Committee
by Lydia Swart, 7 May 2008
This analysis explores the premise that there is a governance crisis in the Fifth Committee (Budgetary and Administrative) and is based on conversations with a number of key delegates from the EU, Group of 77, and the US as well as other insiders.

Fifth Committee Update - 28 March 2008
The Fifth Committee's first resumed session in March did not result in many substantive decisions, suggesting a serious governance crisis in this committee.

Fifth Committee Report: 10-14 March 2008
The Fifth Committee continued to discuss reform proposals on Human Resources Management and Procurement as well as efforts to strengthen investigations, development related activities, and the Department of Political Affairs’ capacity in regard to conflict prevention.

Fifth Committee Report: 3-7 March 2008
On 4 March 2008, Member States received briefings by UN officials in two separate sessions. Alicia Barcena, Under-Secretary-General for Management, and Jane Holl Lute, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Field Support, gave briefings on Human Resources Management during the morning session. In the afternoon, USG Barcena briefed the membership on the Comprehensive Accountability Architecture.

Fifth Committee Analysis: Why was the UN Budget Approved by Vote and not by Consensus?
by Lydia Swart, 29 January 2008
A look at the current dynamics in the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee which deals with budget and administrative matters, based on conversations with key players from the EU, Group of 77, and the US. In particular, the following focuses on the powerful Group of 77 and the US. The latter insisted on the vote to approve the budget.

Fifth Committee Report: 5-9 November 2007
After delays caused by the fact that the report of the ACABQ on Administration of Justice took longer than expected, the Fifth Committee this week finally started its work to consider the proposed new internal system of justice. Member States agreed last spring that the new system should be implemented by January 2009.

Fifth Committee Report: 22-26 October 2007
This week, no specific reform proposals were discussed in the Fifth Committee. However, at the introduction of the proposed programme budget for 2008-2009 by the Secretary General on 25 and 26 October, the Secretary-General did stress the ongoing reform process. The between 15-25% expected final increase in the proposed budget, which will include add-ons still to be submitted, raised considerable concern among those Member States who pay most of the dues.

Fifth Committee Report: 15-19 October 2007
From 15-19 October 2007, the Fifth Committee mostly considered budget matters and the reports of the OIOS and Board of Auditors. Discussions on Administration of Justice which had originally been scheduled for this week were delayed as the ACABQ report on this subject is not yet available.

Fifth Committee Report: 5-11 October 2007
From 5 to 9 October 2007, the Fifth Committee considered the organization of its work and received briefings on reform issues from the Deputy Secretary-General, the Under-Secretary-General for Management and Assistant Secretaries-General on management reform, human resources, administration of justice and IT.

61nd SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

REPORTS & ANALYSES

UN Management Reform - the Role and Perspective of the Group of 77
by Irene Martinetti, 10 September 2007

Management Reform - the Role and Perspective of the United States
by Julia Hurley, 21 june 2007

Fifth Committee Report: 1-8 June 2007
On 8 June 2007, the Fifth Committee concluded discussions on all issues except DPKO reform. Amid the issues taken up by the Committee during the session, the Center for UN Reform tracked the negotiations on the strengthening of the oversight mechanisms of the United Nations, and on the budgetary requirements for the restructuring of DPKO.

Fifth Committee Report: 14-29 May 2007
During the past two weeks, Fifth Committee delegates reportedly continued discussions on the Reform of the Oversight and Governance systems of the UN. A draft resolution establishing the Indepedent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC) and deciding the modalities for the strengthening of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is currently under negotiation.

Fifth Committee Report: 7-11 May 2007
During the first meeting of its second resumed session, the Fifth Committee addressed, inter alia, the reform of Governance and Oversight. The Committee is expected to finalize the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC) and establish the nomination and selection procedures for its members. The strengthening the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is also a key agenda item.

Pushing Decisions through a Clogged Bottleneck
by Irene Martinetti and Lydia Swart, 25 April 2007
Should there be a review of the Fifth Committee's Working Methods?

Fifth Committee Report: 19-30 March 2007
Over the past two weeks the Fifth Committee, in conjunction with the Sixth Committee, has been engaged in discussions on the subject of the reform of the Internal Justice system at the UN. A draft resolution was approved by the Committee on 29 March 2007

Fifth Committee Report: 5-9 March 2007
From 5-9 March 2007, Member States discussed, inter alia, the reform of the United Nations administration of justice system, an audit report of the tsunami relief operations, and a report on progress implementing strengthened, unified United Nations security system.

Much Needed Change in UN Human Resources Policies Gets a Timid Start
by Irene Martinetti, 21 December 2006

Fifth Committee Report: 18-22 December 2006
From December 16 to 22, the Fifth Committee concluded negotiations on several resolutions. This report provides an updated analysis of the resolutions on Procurement Reform, Human Resources Reform, and Scale of Assessments.

Fifth Committee Report: 11-15 December 2006
From 9-15 December, the Fifth Committee discussed, inter alia, a series of reports on the reform of the oversight and governance system of the UN. Informal consultations continued on procurement and human resources management reform among others.

Fifth Committee Report: 4-8 December 2006
From 4 to 8 December Informal consultations continued at the Fifth Committee concerning the draft resolution on human resources management reform. The following is a summary of issues raised with respect to mobility and career development and support.

Reforming Oversight and Governance of the UN Encounters Hurdles
by Irene Martinetti, 1 December 2006

Fifth Committee Report: 21 November - 1 December 2006
Informal consultations continued in the Fifth Committee on scale of assessments, programme budget, United Nations pension system, procurement reform and human resources reform among others.

5th Committe Considers Progress on Procurement Reform
by Lydia Swart, 15 November 2006

Fifth Committee Report: 13-17 November 2006
Informal Consultations were held on oversight and governance and procurement reform. Furthermore, Informal Consultations on Human Resources Management Reform continued and discussions on the Secretary General Reports were concluded.

Fifth Committee Report: 6-10 November 2006
This report is based on Fifth Committee meetings held from 6-10 November on Human Resources Management, UN Pension Fund, UN Financial Situation and the Economic Commission for Africa.

Fifth Committee Report: 30 October - 3 November 2006
This report is based on Fifth Committee meetings held from 30 October - 3 November on Human Resources Management, Procurement Reform, and the Joint Inspection Unit.

Fifth Committee Report: 23-27 October 2006
This report is based on Fifth Committee meetings held from 23-27 October on procurement reform, the report of the International Civil Service Commission and the Joint Inspection Unit.

Fifth Committee Report: 16-20 October 2006
The following report is based on Fifth Committee meetings held in the week of 16-20 October, 2006 regarding Governance and Oversight and the Program Budget for 2006-2007.


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Latest Updates

The Council on Foreign Relations posts video talk on Security Council Reform
On 11 January 2012 the Council on Foreign Relations posted a video talk by Stewart M. Patrick on Security Council Reform, entitled “UN Security Council Reform: Is it Time?”. Click here to watch the video talk on the CFR website

Meeting on General Assembly Revitalization 1 December 2011
By Mie Hansen, 5 January 2012
On 1 December 2011 the General Assembly met to discuss Agenda Item 120: Implementation of the Resolutions of the United Nations and Agenda Item 121: Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly.
This article provides an overview of the debate.

Former consultant with the Center for UN Reform Education wins prestigious award
By Thomas Colerick, 13 December 2011

Meeting in the General Assembly on Security Council Reform, 8 and 9 November 2011
By Mie Hansen, 7 December 2011
On 8 and 9 November 2011 the 51st and 52nd plenary meetings of the 66th General Assembly session were held with a discussion of Agenda Item 122: Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters. This article gives an overview of the debate and the statements made during the meetings, as well as an update on the developments in regard to Security Council reform leading up to the debate.

The 2011 Annual Report of the Human Rights Council
By Thomas Colerick, 8 November 2011
The 2011 Annual Report of the Council is now available.

Highlights of the Human Rights Council’s 18th Regular session
By Thomas Colerick, 11 October 2011

New report on the Human Rights Council’s fifth year
By Thomas Colerick, 4 October 2011

The Human Rights Council’s 18th Session (12-30 September 2011)
By Thomas Colerick, 28 September 2011

Update on Revitalization of the General Assembly: A RECAP OF DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE 65th GA SESSION
By Mie Hansen, 27 September 2011
Even before heads of state from around the world gathered last week at UN headquarters in New York for the opening of the 66th annual session of the UN General Assembly, the world’s main deliberative body, continuation of the ongoing negotiations to make the Assembly more effective, efficient and relevant were assured for yet another year. Member States have been discussing the “Revitalization of the General Assembly” for the past twenty years, but according to some critics only minor improvements have been made, leaving deep-seated reforms untouched. Even though all Member States seem to agree that reform of the Assembly is vital, recent developments confirm that it is still very difficult to reach an agreement on what should be done.

Chronology: The Human Rights Council – elections, sessions and important developments
By Thomas Colerick, 23 September 2011
As the Center for UN Reform Education once again will be covering the Human Rights Council more systematically, this chronology of the Council is provided. It includes elections, selected sessions and major developments and takes the reader from the Council’s birth in 2006 to today where the Council is currently holding its 18th Session in Geneva, Switzerland.



Panel on Improving Security Council Working Methods
On 23 June 2011, The Center for UN Reform Education held a panel discussion on “Improving the Working Methods of the Security Council”. The basis for the discussion was the most recent version of the S5 draft proposal on Reforming the Working Methods of the Security Council.



Qatar hosts workshop on Security Council Reform
On 12 & 13 May 2011, Qatar hosted a workshop on Security Council Reform in Doha. Lydia Swart of the Center was invited and she shared ten observations on this key reform process.

To move the process along, Member States, the Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations, and/or the President of the General Assembly will need to provide leadership by proposing a timeline/trajectory for the negotiations and by formulating a compromise solution that can garner support from all factions.



S5 presents draft resolution on Improving the Working Methods of the Security Council
By Mie Hansen, 2 May 2011
On 14 April, 2011, the Small Five Group (S5), consisting of Costa Rica, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Singapore and Switzerland, presented a draft resolution for Improving the Working Methods of the Security Council. The resolution was presented under agenda item 115 of the General Assembly (GA) that deals with follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit. The S5 had presented its first draft resolution on the topic (A/60/L.49) in 2006 also as follow-up to the 2000/2005 Summits.

Update on Security Council Reform
By Mie Hansen, 5 April 2011
Since the Center’s latest update of 22 June 2010, Members States conducted text-based negotiations on 21 October 2010, 11 November 2010, 14 December 2010, and on 2 March 2011 in their efforts to reform the Security Council. Some countries apparently continue to slow down the negotiations, while others may push for a vote sooner rather than later.

Book Launch, The Group of 77: Perspectives on its Role in the UN General Assembly.
25 April 2011
Pictured from right to left: Center President William R. Pace, Minister Marcelo Suarez Salvia from Argentina (current G77 Chair), Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz of Egypt, Ambassador Herman Schaper of the Netherlands, and co-author Lydia Swart. For their remarks, click here: Minister Suarez, Ambassador Schaper, Ambassador Abdelaziz (pending) and Lydia Swart.





Text-based Negotiations in Full Swing
22 June 2010
On June 16th the negotiations on Security Council reform proceeded with the third meeting of the fifth round. The meeting aimed at getting member states to discuss specific language on the fourth “key issue”. Many countries seemed to have misunderstood the intention of the Chair, however, and restated their positions rather than making suggestions for specific changes to the document at hand.

Potentially Historic Text on Security Council Reform
By Jakob Lund, 13 May 2010
On May 10th, Zahir Tanin, the Chair of the intergovernmental negotiations on the question of equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council, sent out a long-awaited fax to all member states containing a “negotiation text”. The text and the annex can be accessed on the website of the PGA. The text includes the proposals sent by member states to Tanin's office since he opened the process of moving towards a text-based solution.

Open Debate on the Working Methods of the Security Council
By Jakob Silas Lund, 28 April 2010
On April 22nd, the Security Council’s Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Issues held an open debate on the working methods of the Council. The debate raised some key questions that are relevant to the ongoing Security Council reform negotiations. Furthermore, to keep the issue of its working methods on the agenda of the Security Council is, in and of itself, an accomplishment.

A New Phase in Security Council Reform Has Started
10 February, 2010
On February 5th, the Chair of the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform, Ambassador Tanin of Afghanistan, sent out a letter to all member states with an attachment of sixty pages. The document (available here and here) includes all “substantive input” submitted by Member States to the Chair thus far in the fourth round of negotiations. This marks the beginning of the fifth round, which, for the first time, will be text-based.

Moving Towards Text-Based Negotiations?
By Jakob Silas Lund, 21 January 2010
The previous month was an eventful one in terms of the Security Council reform process. On December 23rd, a group of countries sent a letter to the Chair of the intergovernmental negotiations, Ambassador Tanin of Afghanistan, urging him to present a composite paper. Following that, Tanin received a number of other letters concerning the process and on January 14th he replied with his own letter to all member states. This all culminated in the latest round of negotiations on January 19th and 20th in which the consequences of the letter exchanges were discussed.

Pros and Cons of Security Council reform
By Jakob Silas Lund, 19 January 2010
Through extensive interviews with experts as well as current and former Ambassadors and diplomats who have been close to the reform process, this article outlines and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the components incorporated in the proposals currently on the table.

The Long and Winding Road
by Jakob Silas Lund, 11 December, 2009
On November 16th, the chair of the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform, Ambassador Zahir Tanin of Afghanistan, sent a letter to all member states inviting them to the first meeting of the fourth round of negotiations. The negotiations ended up spanning over two days rather than the planned one-day session.