- established two subgroups. The work of Sub-Group 2 was relevant to the 2003 Convention 9 as it was responsible for examining the structure, composition and methods of work of UNESCO's internationa l and intergovernmental bodies.
- 430. The Secretary reminded the Assembly that this was not the first time a governing body of the Convention had been asked to examine issues related to governance. In fact, governance was the topic of discussion by the Committee at its eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth sessions, and by the General Assembly at its fifth and sixth sessions. The recommendations of the UNESCO-wide Open-Ended Working Group had been discussed at the twelfth session of the Committee in 2017 with a view to presenting them at this session. However, the discussion was limited to Recommendation 107, which specifically addressed the 2003 Convention. It was recalled that Recommendation 107 of the Document 39 C/70 in Annex 2 stated the need to strengthen the decision-making procedures and credibility of the Committee, taking due note of the ad hoc working group established to address these issues. The General Assembly was now asked to look more broadly at the recommendations of the Open-Ended Working Group. The Annex of Document 12 contained twenty-six recommendations considered to have direct relevance to the 2003 Convention together with the indication of their status. These recommendations were analysed in terms of four categories: closed, ongoing, action proposed and action required by States Parties. Thus, the Assembly was called upon to adopt a coordinated approach between these two agenda items, as items 12 and 13 represented two parallel processes. In addition, some of the recommendations of the Open-Ended Working Group on Governance, Procedures and Working Methods of the governing bodies of UNESCO addressed under agenda 12 called for harmonization of the rule and procedures of the international and intergovernmental bodies of UNESCO, the subject of agenda item 13. The Secretariat therefore proposed that the amendment of the Rules of Procedure to the General Assembly be considered within the framework of the recommendations of the Open-Ended Working Group so as to produce one set of proposed amendments. This meant that more time was needed and the draft resolution requested that the Secretariat consult States Parties and propose draft amendments to the Rules of Procedure on the General Assembly at its eighth session. The Secretary also recalled that the informal ad hoc working group of the Convention had met on 26 April 2018 and discussed the follow-up of the recommendations of the Working Group on Governance.
- 431. The Chairperson thanked the Secretary for this detailed information, noting that two parallel processes were indeed underway and that more time would be needed to act in a coordinated manner. She suggested holding a general debate under agenda item 12 on the recommendations of the Open-Ended Working Group, as well as the analysis prepared by the Secretariat on the recommendations concerning the 2003 Convention. The Chairperson then proposed suspending consideration of the draft resolution on agenda item 12 in order to proceed to the consideration of agenda item 13, a point closely related to item 12. She would note States wishing to make general statements regarding the revision of the Rules of Procedure, but felt it was too early to consider every proposal presented. However, the debate would certainly allow future directions for addressing this issue to be set. Thus, the Assembly would first proceed to the adoption of the draft resolution under item 13 before returning to item 12, and she invited the Assembly to conclude the debate and consider the draft resolution. With no objections, the Chairperson turned to the debate on agenda item 12.
- 432. The delegation of Ecuador thanked the Secretariat for presenting this very important item, not only for the Convention and this Assembly but also for UNESCO as a whole. It thanked the Secretary for the detailed report presented with all the recommendations that had been made, and it was pleased to note that the Committee and the Assembly had fulfilled many of the recommendations, not only with regard to the Convention but in view of all the culture Conventions. The delegation agreed with the Chairperson that the proposals should be further reviewed because the response of States Parties had not been as widespread as