Excellencies, Co-Chairs,

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, except the delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan upon its request.

2. At the outset, the Group thanks the Co-Chairs of the Informal Ad Hoc Working Group on the Review of Mandate Implementation for sharing the tentative schedule of meetings for the next two months, Given the integrated nature of all three stages of the mandate lifecycle (creation, implementation, and review), the Group trusts that written inputs on these stages will be evaluated holistically in the entire lifecycle, to ensure a coherent and balanced approach.

3. The Group also seeks further clarification regarding the request for inputs, as there is not yet a common understanding on the final outcome of the Ad Hoc Working Group whether it will take the form of a resolution, a set of recommendations, a statement, or another type of outcome document, we would also appreciate clarity on the process and framework through which the suggested inputs will be considered.

4. The Group reiterates the importance of accelerating the creation of comprehensive registries of existing mandates; these registries should include detailed information on the costs of mandates, the staff assigned to them, and their nationality distribution. Such transparency will allow Member States to make better-informed assessments and decisions.

5. The Group reaffirms that any review of mandate creation must remain firmly within the purview of Member States. The Secretariat's operational discretion must be exercised strictly within the established intergovernmental framework. It is equally important that the process ensure full and equal participation of all Member States, including developing countries, taking into account capacity constraints and avoiding a hasty or selective approach.

6. Clear and unambiguous mandates from intergovernmental bodies provide the most solid foundation for the Secretariat's successful implementation. Mandate texts are political instruments agreed upon by Member States, and this review process should not result in the erosion of the substantive content or negotiated language that embody the collective will of Member States.

7. On the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, the Group recognizes their potential to improve efficiency; however, such tools should be used to supplement the human dimension of intergovernmental work. The personal accountability of UN staff in supporting Member States remains essential. The use of AI tools, without adequate safeguards, privacy and security guarantees, and a comprehensive understanding could pose risks including bias, monopolization, loss of nuance, and distortion of negotiated outcomes.

8. The Group reiterates that mandates must be supported by adequate and predictable resources; more clarity is required to understand the downstream implications of having the establishment of new mandates being conditioned on the availability of resources, or granting the Secretary-General discretionary flexibility to reassign or merge tasks. Such design features should not undermine the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations or weaken its operational effectiveness and credibility.

9. The Group consider that we need to find a common understanding between member states and the Secretariat on the scope and implications of the phrasing "within existing resources".

10. To conclude, the Group reiterates its commitment to engage constructively in this process. We emphasize that discussions on mandate creation must remain inclusive, transparent, and efficient, ensuring the full participation of all Member States.

I thank you.