Thank you, Mr. Chairman,
I would like to thank the Secretariat for the presentation and the reports on Administration of Justice, as well as Mr. Saha, Chairman of the ACABQ for his presentation. We are also looking forward to receiving the views and decisions from the 6th committee.
In 2004 the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to form a panel of external and independent experts to consider a redesign of the system of administration of justice. The background for this request was long standing criticism against the present system of being ineffective, inefficient, unfair and lacking transparency.
Norway wishes to thank the panel for its thoughtful analysis and recommendations as well as the Secretary-General for his comments. We are looking forward to working with other delegations towards a system of administration of justice that is efficient and fair.
This perception of a dysfunctional system has indeed been confirmed by the panel. The Secretary-General shares the view of the Panel that there are significant problems with the existing system and has given useful comments.
Mr. Chairman,
Norway’s aspiration for the UN is as simple as it is ambitious; we want a UN led world order – and the rule of law must underpin all UN activities. This principle is valid for the UN itself and for the Secretariat, which is entrusted to carry out the mandates of the UN.
Norway supports improving the internal system of administration of justice to provide adequate safeguards and due process so as to ensure accountability of staff members.
We support establishing an independent, two-tier system of formal justice. We support professionalizing the system. We support strengthening the mediation system. We support the establishment of legal counsel. We support decentralization of the system. While recognizing the need to discuss further the implementation of some of the concepts introduced, we support the general recommendations made by the panel. We also find the comments by the Secretary-General and ACABQ valuable and well founded.
Mr. Chairman,
At the high-level meeting in 2005 Member States pledged to provide the organization with adequate resources to full fill its mandates. Norway stands by this pledge. A well functioning internal justice system is a prerequisite for a well functioning secretariat. An adequate internal system of justice will contribute to preventing misconducts and mismanagement.
The issue before us is an important part of the ongoing reform process and important for the future of the organization. The flaws of the current system have been known for a long time and it is long overdue to correct the problems. Let us not for any financial consideration settle for something less than adequate from the point of view of justice.
I thank you Mr. Chairman.