United Nations

A/RES/70/224

General AssemblyDistr.: General
23 February 2016

Seventieth session
Agenda item 27

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 22 December 2015
[on the report of the Second Committee (A/70/479)]

70/224. Towards global partnerships: a principle-based approachto enhanced cooperation between the United Nations andall relevant partners
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 55/215 of 21 December 2000, 56/76 of 11 December
2001, 58/129 of 19 December 2003, 60/215 of 22 December 2005, 62/211 of
19 December 2007, 64/223 of 21 December 2009, 66/223 of 22 December 2011 and68/234 of 20 December 2013,
Reaffirming its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming
our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted acomprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative
Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly
for the full implementation of this Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating
poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest
global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, itscommitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions —economic, social and environmental — in a balanced and integrated manner, and tobuilding upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking
to address their unfinished business,
Reaffirming also its resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa
Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing forDevelopment, which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, supports and complements it, helps to contextualize its means of
implementation targets with concrete policies and actions, and reaffirms the strong
political commitment to address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling
environment at all levels for sustainable development in the spirit of global
partnership and solidarity,
Recalling these objectives, particularly with regard to developing partnerships
through the provision of greater opportunities to the private sector,
non-governmental organizations and civil society in general so as to enable them tocontribute to the realization of the goals and programme s of the Organization, inparticular in the pursuit of sustainable development and the eradication of poverty,

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Towards global partnerships: a principle-based approach to enhanced
cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners

A/RES/70/224

Underlining the fact that cooperation between the United Nations and all
relevant partners, including the private sector, and all partnerships using the United
Nations name or emblem shall serve the purposes and principles embodied in theCharter of the United Nations and shall be undertaken in a manner that maintains
and promotes the integrity, impartiality and independence of the Organization,
Welcoming the contribution of all relevant partners, including the private
sector, non-governmental organizations, philanthropic organizations, academia andcivil society, which respect and support, as appropriate, the core values andprinciples of the United Nations, to the implementation of the outcomes of theUnited Nations conferences and summits and their reviews in the economic, social,environmental and related fields, as well as the realization of the internationallyagreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals,
Emphasizing that cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant
partners, in particular the private sector, can contribute to addressing the obstacles
confronted by developing countries through responsible business practices, such as
respecting the principles of the United Nations Global Compact and taking action,
including by mobilizing the resources needed to finance their sustainable
development, and to realizing the internationally agreed development goa ls indeveloping countries,
Welcoming, in the context of enhanced cooperation between the United
Nations and all its relevant partners, including through multi -stakeholder
partnerships, efforts to step up international cooperation and collaboration inscience, research, technology and innovation on the basis of common interest andmutual benefit, focusing on the needs of developing countries and the achievementof the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
Welcoming also the efforts and encouraging further efforts by all relevant
partners, including the private sector, to engage as reliable and consistent partners in
the development process and to take into account not only the economic andfinancial but also the developmental, social, human rights, gend er andenvironmental implications of their undertakings, and, in general, towards
implementing corporate social and environmental responsibility, that is, bringing
such values and responsibilities to bear on their conduct and policies premised on
profit incentives, in conformity with national laws and regulations,Noting the principles and initiatives of the United Nations Global Compact,
such as the Business for the Rule of Law Framework,
Recalling that multi-stakeholder partnerships and the resources, knowledge
and ingenuity of the relevant stakeholders will be important in mobilizing andsharing knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, complement ing
the efforts of Governments and supporting the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals, in particular in developing countries,
Recalling also the update of the Guidelines on a Principle-based Approach to
the Cooperation between the United Nations and the Business Sector, undertaken inorder to ensure their full alignment with the Guiding Principles on Business andHuman Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy”
Framework, 1
Recalling further that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
acknowledges the roles and contributions of civil society, the scientific and__________________
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A/HRC/17/31, annex.

Towards global partnerships: a principle-based approach to enhanced
cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners

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technological community and non-governmental organizations, as well as otherrelevant international organizations, including international financial institutions
and multilateral development banks, in advancing sustainable development,
Recalling that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development also
acknowledges that the implementation of sustainable development will depend on
the active engagement of both the public and private sectors, and recognizi ng thatthe active participation of the private sector can contribute to the achievement ofsustainable development,
Recalling also that the United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development supported national regulatory and policy frameworks that enab lebusiness and industry to advance sustainable development initiatives, including theimportant tool of public-private partnerships,
Recognizing the contributions of all relevant partners, including the private
sector, in fostering stability and supporting recovery by creating job opportunities,
advancing economic development, as well as infrastructure development, and, as
appropriate, contributing to trust, reconciliation and security,
Noting that the financial and economic crisis, inter alia, has demon strated theneed for values and principles in business, including for sustainable businesspractices, social protection floors and the promotion of full and productive
employment and decent work for all,Reaffirming the principles of sustainable development, and underlining the
global consensus reached on the key values and principles that will promotesustainable, fair, equitable and sustained economic development and that corporatesocial and environmental responsibility are important elements of that consensus,
Encouraging the private sector in the context of enhanced cooperation between
the United Nations and all its relevant partners to enhance its involvement incombating climate change,
Recognizing that a socially responsible private sector can contribute to thepromotion of children’s rights and education through relevant initiatives such as theChildren’s Rights and Business Principles and the Framework for Business
Engagement in Education,
Recognizing also the unique position of the United Nations as a builder ofbridges among countries and all stakeholders, and the progress achieved in the workof the United Nations on partnerships, notably in the framework of various United
Nations organizations, agencies, funds, programmes, task forces, commissions andinitiatives, and noting the establishment of partnerships at the field level enteredinto by various United Nations agencies, non-public partners and Member States, aswell as multi-stakeholder partnerships,
Recalling that the high-level political forum on sustainable development will
have a central role in overseeing follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development at the global level,
Stressing the importance of the high-level political forum on sustainable
development in supporting the participation in follow-up and review processes by
the major groups and other relevant stakeholders pursuant to resolution 67/290 of 9
July 2013, and calling on those actors to report on their contribution to theimplementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

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Recognizing the vital role that the United Nations Global Compact Officecontinues to play with regard to strengthening the capacity of the United Nations topartner strategically with the private sector, in accordance with its mandate from theGeneral Assembly, to advance United Nations values and responsible businesspractices within the United Nations system and among the global business
community,
1.
Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on enhanced
cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular theprivate sector; 22.
Stresses that partnerships are voluntary and collaborative relationships
between various parties, both public and non-public, in which all participants agree
to work together to achieve a common purpose or undertake a specific task and, as
mutually agreed, to share risks and responsibilities, resources and benefits;
3.
Also stresses the importance of the contribution of voluntary partnerships
to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, while reiterating thatthey are a complement to, but not intended to substitute for, the commitment madeby Governments with a view to achieving those Goals;
4.
Further stresses that partnerships should be consistent with national laws
and national development strategies and plans, as well as the priorities of countries
where they are implemented, bearing in mind the relevant guidance provided byGovernments;
5.
Emphasizes the vital role played by Governments in promoting
responsible business practices, including providing and ensuring enforcement of thenecessary legal and regulatory frameworks in accordance with national legislationand development priorities, and invites them to continue to provide support toUnited Nations efforts to engage with the private sector, as appropriate;
6.
Recognizes the vital role that the private sector plays in development,
including through engaging in various partnership models and by generating decent
employment and investment, giving access to and developing new technologies,
offering technical vocational training activities and stimulating sustained, inclusive
and equitable economic growth, with due consideration for non -discrimination,
gender equality and women’s empowerment, while bearing in mind the need toensure that their activities conform fully with the principle of national ownership ofdevelopment strategies;
7.
Welcomes the growing number of businesses that embrace a corebusiness model that takes account of the environmental, social and governanceimpacts of their activities, encourages and urges all businesses to adopt principles
for responsible business and investing, and supports the work of the United Nations
Global Compact in this regard;
8.
Recognizes the importance of the various contributions of all relevant
stakeholders, including the private sector, to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, 3 and in this regard takes note of the important role that the Globa lCompact Local Networks will play in supporting the implementation of the 2030
Agenda and promoting poverty eradication and sustainable development through,inter alia, the exercise of corporate social responsibility;__________________
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A/70/296.
Resolution 70/1.

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9.
Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to improve collaborationof the United Nations with all relevant partners, including the private sector, and tostrengthen the capacities of the United Nations system, with a view to enhancing theresults achieved through partnerships, and acknowledges the importance ofcontinued consultations with Member States;
10. Also welcomes the commitment of the Secretary-General to continuing toretain the integrity and unique role of the United Nations Global Compact;
11. Notes with appreciation the initiatives of the Secretary-General,
including the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, the Every Woman, Every Childinitiative, the Global Education First Initiative, the Zero Hunger Challenge initiative
and the Global Pulse initiative, while stressing the principles of transparency,
coherence, impact, accountability and due diligence;
12. Invites the United Nations system, when considering partnerships, toseek to engage in a more coherent manner with private sector entities, including
small and medium-sized enterprises, that support the core values of the United
Nations, as reflected in the Charter of the United Nations and other relevant
conventions and treaties, and that commit to the principles of the United Nations
Global Compact by translating them into operational corporate policies, codes ofconduct and management, monitoring and reporting systems;
13. Stresses the need for the United Nations system to develop, for thosepartnerships in which it participates, a common and systemic approach wh ich places
greater emphasis on transparency, coherence, impact, accountability and due
diligence, without imposing undue rigidity in partnership agreements;
14. Requests the Secretary-General, in this regard, in collaboration withfunds and programmes, the specialized agencies and other relevant United Nations
entities and mechanisms:(a) To implement the Guidelines on a Principle-based Approach to the
Cooperation between the United Nations and the Business Sector, including from agender perspective;(b) To disclose the partners, contributions and matching funds for all
relevant partnerships, including at the country level;(c) To strengthen due diligence and risk management measures that cansafeguard the reputation of the Organization and ensure confi dence-building;(d) To ensure that these elements are coherently reflected in the reporting ofpartnership activities by the United Nations funds, programmes and, as appropriate,agencies to their respective governing bodies;(e) To ensure that these elements are reflected in system-wide reports and in
the reports on initiatives of the Secretary-General to be submitted for theconsideration of Member States;
15. Recognizes the contribution of partnerships to the realization of the goals
and programmes of the Organization, and in this regard requests the Economic andSocial Council to hold, during its partnership forum in 2016, a discussion on thebest practices and ways to improve, inter alia, transparency, accountability and thesharing of experiences of multi-stakeholder partnerships and on the review andmonitoring of these partnerships, including the role of Member States in the review
and monitoring process;

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16. Underlines, in this context, the importance of integrity measures as taken
and advocated by the United Nations Global Compact;
17. Encourages the United Nations funds and programmes to continue toactively engage with other stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector
and foundations, with a view to diversifying potential sources of funding, especiallycore funding, for their operational activities for development, in alignment with thecore principles of the United Nations development system and with full respect for
the national priorities of programme countries;
18. Recognizes that these partnerships should give priority to core resources,
while noting the need to make non-core resources from partners flexible and alignedwith strategic plans and national priorities;
19. Requests the United Nations Global Compact to promote the Women’s
Empowerment Principles and to encourage the Global Compact Local Networks tocreate awareness of the many ways in which business can promote gender equality
in the workplace, marketplace and community, and encourages the private sector tocontribute to advancing gender equality;
20. Acknowledges the importance of corporate sustainability reporting,encourages companies, where appropriate, especially publicly listed and large
companies, to consider integrating sustainability information into their reporting
cycle, encourages industry, interested Governments and relevant stakeholders, withthe support of the United Nations system, as appropriate, to develop models for bestpractice and to facilitate action for the integration of sustainability reporting, taking
into account experiences from already existing frameworks and paying particularattention to the needs of developing countries, including for capacity -building, andwelcomes in this context the collaboration of the United Nations Global Compact
with the Global Reporting Initiative and the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development;
21. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to promote effective
implementation of the Guidelines on a Principle-based Approach to the Cooperation
between the United Nations and the Business Sector;
22. Encourages the international community to strengthen global
partnerships for the integration and implementation in partnerships of the Global
Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization and the call for action on youth
employment, in accordance with national plans and priorities;
23. Invites the academic, research and scientific communities to contribute to
the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in this regard
recognizes the important role of the United Nations Academic Impact, among otherinitiatives, and encourages it to play an important and growing role in fostering
global citizenship, filling knowledge gaps and facilitating better understanding of
the core principles and activities of the United Nations;24. Stresses the importance of developing national strategies for thepromotion of sustainable and productive entrepreneurial activities throughpartnerships, and encourages Governments to create a climate that is conducive toincreasing the number of women entrepreneurs and the size of their businesses;
25. Notes with appreciation the convening of the annual United Nations
Private Sector Forum, which, in 2015, focused on the implementation of the
Sustainable Development Goals;

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26. Encourages the private sector and the Global Compact Local Networks
to join the United Nations Global Compact “Business for Peace” platform and toseek to maximize the beneficial contributions to peace and development while
minimizing the risks of negative impacts on both business and societ y in conflictaffected countries;
27. Recognizes the work of the Global Compact Local Networks, as well as
the importance of cooperation between the United Nations system at the local level
and the Global Compact Local Networks, to support, as appropriate and in a mannercomplementary to existing networks, the coordination and application of global
partnerships locally;
28. Also recognizes that the Global Compact Local Networks provide anavenue for diffusing United Nations values and principles and facil itating
partnerships with business on a broad scale;
29. Acknowledges the establishment of the United Nations private sector
focal points network, promoting greater coherence and capacity -building within the
Organization on activities involving business and disseminating innovations in
engagement across the system, as well as the holding of annual meetings of United
Nations system private sector focal points, which remain important forums for theexchange of best practices, lessons learned and innovations in partnerships with theprivate sector;
30. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its
seventy-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, anddecides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-second session the item
entitled “Towards global partnerships”, unless otherwise agreed in the discussions
on the revitalization of the Second Committee.
81st plenary meeting
22 December 2015

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