Here’s the translation to American English:
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, presented a set of reforms on Wednesday aimed at increasing the Organization’s effectiveness and improving coordination among its three main pillars: peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. During his address to the General Assembly, Guterres discussed the need for structural reforms to better prepare the UN system for current challenges.
Guterres emphasized his vision for a more integrated and efficient United Nations system, highlighting the need to overcome fragmentation and duplication of efforts. “It is vital to have a more agile and collaborative approach, to maximize synergies, and to ensure that resources are used effectively to benefit those the UN serves,” he stated.
As part of this initiative, an implementation team called UN80 will be created to advance these reform proposals. This team will have the authority to act unilaterally or present its recommendations to intergovernmental bodies. Guterres underscored that the final direction of the UN80 Initiative will depend on the Member States.
The presentation session is part of a broader process aimed at optimizing UN operations and reaffirming its relevance in a constantly changing world. The reforms are structured around three main areas of focus. The first focuses on modernizing institutional operations and improving efficiency within the UN Secretariat, with initial proposals submitted for review in the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly.
The second area examines the complete lifecycle of mandates to ensure coherence and accountability. Currently, an Informal Special Working Group of the Assembly is assessing initial recommendations in this area.
Finally, the third area includes over 70 proposals, highlighting a plan to reconfigure peace and security teams in New York and in special political missions in regions such as Yemen and Cyprus. It also suggests merging the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aiming to create a stronger entity for sustainable development. Additionally, there is a proposal to potentially merge UN Women with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen the voice on issues of gender equality and the rights of women and girls.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
