Excellencies, Co-Chairs,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

The Group thanks the Co-Chairs for their continued leadership and takes note of their draft report on criteria and modalities and the Secretariat's note on possible review mechanisms. We offer the following preliminary observations, without prejudging our position on the proposed framework.

The Group reiterates that mandate texts are political instruments agreed upon by Member States. All reviews must remain fully Member State-led, with decisions taken by the competent intergovernmental bodies. Mandates should be reviewed primarily by the bodies that originated them, respecting their working methods and decision-making arrangements. This does not preclude coordinated or cross-cutting assessments that may help Member States identify opportunities to improve coherence, reduce duplication, and strengthen implementation across the system. The Working Group should facilitate coordination and lessons learned without duplicating existing reform processes or displacing those bodies' authority.

We welcome the draft report's recognition that mandates remain valid until fully implemented, expired in accordance with the terms of the resolutions that established them, or otherwise changed or retired by Member States. We also appreciate its distinction between complementarity and functional duplication, its recognition of the consequences of inadequate resourcing, and its reaffirmation that the proposed criteria and checklist serve only as qualitative guidance and should not trigger the automatic adjustment or retirement of mandates.

The core criteria of relevance, impact and coherence could provide useful guidance if applied flexibly, transparently and consistently, ensuring an objective, impartial and balanced approach. As reflected in the agreed principles set out in paragraph 1 (b) of resolution 80/251, there can be no one-size-fits-all approach: assessments must respect the diverse nature and context of each mandate, taking into account its objectives, substantive implications and resource requirements. The relevance of a mandate should not be determined solely by its age and weak mandate implementation attributable to under-resourcing may point to the need for strengthened implementation.

The development pillar must maintain its priority under UN80, with a focus on enhancing support to developing countries. Whenever possible, efficiency gains should be redeployed to development activities in programme countries. Reviews should strengthen impact on the ground while preserving balance across the three pillars.

The Secretariat's distinction between clustered and collective reviews usefully clarifies the available options. Thematic, reporting and periodicity clusters may offer practical opportunities, provided individual mandates remain traceable and substantive coverage and access to information are preserved. Coordinated reviews across bodies must respect each body's authority. Programme-based clustering must not allow budgetary structures or resource constraints to determine substantive priorities.

The Group would welcome further details on the proposed pilots, including their selection, scope, participation, evidence requirements, resource implications and reporting arrangements. Participation should be inclusive, and pilots should provide opportunities to test methodologies, identify practical improvements, and draw lessons to inform the incremental refinement and wider application of the review framework, subject to consideration by Member States.

Finally, we would appreciate an updated timeline clarifying how the pilots, refinement of criteria and consideration of the Secretary-General's advice under paragraphs 16, 18 and 24 will interact. Adequate time must be provided for consultations. The proposed framework remains guidance under consideration, and its application should not anticipate agreement by Member States.

The Group stands ready to engage constructively to strengthen mandate implementation, maintain momentum in implementing resolution 80/251, and advance the priorities of developing countries.

I thank you.