LHE/20/8.GA/INF.1 - page 15

- word count? If so, how many words would be allowed? While the group reached consensus on many issues, the Committee members of the ad hoc working group met all members of the Evaluation Body on 27 September 2017 in a final meeting in Paris. The Evaluation Body found it too premature to consider a new dialogue mechanism and that a procedure established in a hurried way could be more disruptive than helpful. The Evaluation Body remarked, in particular, that a number of improvements had been put in place to improve the nomination process, such as the new nomination form under criterion R.5 and the extension of the referral option to all listing mechanisms. According to the Evaluation Body, the Committee should wait until the end of the 2019 cycle to determine the effectiveness of recent measures before considering a formal dialogue process. The ad hoc working group also reflected on other issues, such as the decision-making process of the Committee, the introduction of a so-called deferral option, the nature of the Representative List, and other matters to improve the work of the Committee. One of the main conclusions of the working group was that it should continue its reflections. Thus, at its twelfth session the Committee decided to continue the informal ad hoc working group in 2018, extending its mandate to include five topics: i) to study the funding mechanism of the Convention, including resource mobilization; ii) to enable the implementation of the relevant recommendations of the Open- th Ended Working Group on Governance, as adopted at the 39 session of the General Conference; iii) to further reflect on an app ropriate 'dialogu e mechanism ' in consultation with the Evaluation Body, taking into account the resolutions adopted by the current session of the General Assembly; iv) to reflect on the possible ways in which NGOs under the 2003 Convention could further participate, in consultation with accredited NGOs, and how this would be reflected in the accreditation and renewal mechanisms of NGOs; and v) to reflect on any other issues to facilitate the work of the Committee. The group had already started working under the coordination of its co-Chairs, the Philippines and Algeria, and in close cooperation with the host country of the thirteenth session of the Committee, Mauritius. Mr Lee concluded by thanking the informal ad hoc working group for having undertaken fruitful discussions, which would contribute to the implementation and governance of the Convention. It was crucial to find time to reflect and exchange opinions on the various issues related to the implementation of the normative instruments outside the Committee and other decision-making organs. Mr Lee believed that the two co-Chairs of the working group in 2018 would guide the proceedings well and he promised to support them throughout the year.
- 62. The Chairperson reiterated that the work of the ad hoc informal working group was essential for the development of the Convention, as it was a useful form of exchange of information and the different viewpoints of States Parties.
- 63. The delegation of Ecuador congratulated the Chairperson on her election. Noting that this topic was the most important item on the agenda, it proposed having this discussion later in the afternoon and that States be given five minutes to speak instead of two.
- 64. The Chairperson sought to continue and granted a speaking time of a maximum of five minutes.
- 65. The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic joined the previous speakers in congratulating Mr Byong-hyun Lee for the excellent report and for the breakthrough that had taken place during the work of the twelfth session. It was pleased to note that the current chairing of the Philippines-led group was fully committed to implementing the recommendations of the Working Group on Governance, as contained in the Resolutions of the last General Conference. The delegation drew attention to the need for transparency, adding that the recommendations would distinguish between the changes in the implementation of the Convention and the cases presented for inscription on the Representative List and the Urgent Safeguarding List. This was a complementary procedure, but it was important to avoid any confusion in the interpretations of States Parties and Member States in this dual process for the sake of greater transparency and the successful implementation of the Convention.
- 66. The delegation of Algeria congratulated the Chairperson on her election and thanked Mr Byong-hyun Lee for the wisdom with which he had guided the first draft of the ad hoc working group, as well as for his brilliant chairing of the twelfth session of the Committee in