UN80 – No 2: Response from Member States and appointment of Co-chairs

The initiative for UN80 was originally in the hands of the UN Secretariat, with the establishment of the workstreams and clusters, without the involvement of either Member States or observers, such as civil society organizations, including the Major Groups and other Stakeholders. 

A General Assembly resolution, UN80 Initiative 79/318, was adopted (18 July 2025) welcoming the Secretary-General’s actions to strengthen the UN, and to receiving his relevant proposals, and calling on the “entities and specialised agencies to align their reform efforts with his approach. At the same time, it recognized Member States central role in the reform process, which they said should be “inclusive and transparent”.[1] A further resolution UN80 Initiative: establishment of the informal ad hoc working group. A/79/L119/Rev 1 was subsequently adopted. In addition to establishing the working group, it referred specifically to the mandate implementation review. The President of the General Assembly was requested to appoint two Co-Chairs for the Group; and for the Group to begin working no later than 19 September.  It should conclude its work by the end of March, while updating the General Assembly on its progress by 15 December 2025.[2] This was announced by the out-going President of the General Assembly, Philamon Yang, in consultation with the then President-elect, in his letter of 2 September. HE Ms Carolyn Schwalger, Permanent Representative of New Zealand and HE Mr Brian Wallace, Permanent Representative of Jamaica, and formerly Co-facilitator of the negotiations on the Declaration on Future Generations for the Pact for the Future.[3]

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[1] United Nations General Assembly. 2025. UN80 Initiative. A/RES/79/318. Accessed 16 October 2025.

Available from: https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/79/318

[2] United Nations General Assembly. 2025. UN80 Initiative: establishment of the informal ad hoc working group. A/79/L119/Rev.1. Accessed 16 October 2025

Available at: https://docs.un.org/en/A/79/L.119/Rev.1

[3] United Nations, General Assembly. 2025. Letter of President to Permanent Members, dated 2 September. Accessed 17 September 2025.

Available at: https://www.un.org/pga/wp-content/uploads/sites/109/2025/09/2025-09-02_PGA-letter_UN80-Appointment-of-co-chairs_Mandate-Implementation-Review.pdf