Statement of the Group of 77 and China during the Joint 58th reconvened session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and the 24th reconvened session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), delivered by H.E. Ambassador Armin Andereya Permanent Representative of Chile
Vienna, 10 December 2015
Messrs. Co-chairs,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and to convey the full support of the Group to both of you presiding over this joint reconvened session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). I also take this opportunity to thank the Secretariat for the preparations for this session.
Item 3. Policy directives to the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and strengthening the drug programme and the role of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs as its governing body, including administrative, budgetary and strategic management questions
(a) Work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and policy directives
(b) Role of the Commission as the governing body of the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(i) Strengthening the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(ii) Administrative, budgetary and strategic management questions
The Group considers that the intergovernmental working group to improve the governance and financial situation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (FINGOV) plays a positive role as an appropriate forum for a fruitful discussions on UNODC's programme development and implementation, through a process of consultation and review, thereby strengthening the trust, transparency, effectiveness, deepening the understanding and enhancing the communication between Member States and the Secretariat.
The Group expresses its support to FINGOV and commends the leadership of the Co-chairs of the Working Group, H.E. Ambassador Hernan Estrada, Permanent Representative of Nicaragua, and Mr. Ignacio Baylina of Spain.
The Group stresses the importance of providing technical assistance, within the mandate of the Office, to Member States upon their request and, for these purposes, adequate, predictable and stable funding should be available.
The Group reiterates that the provisional implementation of a new funding model should, inter alia, not hinder the field operations activities of the Office or affect delivery.
The Group remains fully committed to increasing the effectiveness and results of the technical assistance programmes of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and of their delivery, and reaffirms the need to engage in thorough consultations among relevant actors, including the recipient countries, in advance of any possible changes to the field presence of the Office.
The G-77 and China request the Office to continue providing information on the implementation of the provisional funding model and its impact on the work of the Office, including, but not limited to, its ability to deliver technical assistance to Member States upon their request.
(c) Staff composition of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other related matters
The Groups of G77 and China regrets that the principle of equitable geographical distribution has not been reflected in the composition of the staff of UNODC.
The Groups recalls that Resolution 69/251 of the General Assembly of 20 February 2015, has noted with disappointment the insufficient progress made with regard to achieving the goal of 50/50 gender balance in the United Nations common system, especially in senior and policy-making levels, and requested the International Civil Service Commission to encourage the organizations of the common system to fully implement existing gender balance policies and measures.
In that sense, the Group requests the Executive Director to increase the representation of developing countries in the Secretariat, in particular at the professional, senior and policy-making levels, in order to ensure equitable geographical representation, and report on the progress thereon to the Commission at its next Session.
The Group also requests the Executive Director of UNODC to achieve equal representation of women at senior and policy-making levels, and to report on the progress of such measures to the Commission at its next Session.
