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Statement by Mr. Keisuke Fukuda

First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

 

Agenda item 143: Administration of Justice

 

 Main Part of the Seventieth Session of the Fifth Committee

Of the United Nations General Assembly

20 October 2015

 

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation to Ms. Linda Taylor, Executive Director of the Office of the Administration of Justice, Mr. Johnston Barkat, Assistant Secretary-General and UN Ombudsman, and Mr. Babou Sene, Vice Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, for introducing their respective reports.

 

            My delegation welcomes all efforts to resolve cases prior to litigation, including through enhanced cooperation between the formal and informal parts of the justice system, and encourages further efforts in this regard.

 

            My delegation reiterates the importance of both staff and managers understanding and adopting conflict competency skills in order to prevent conflicts, cope with potential or actual conflicts, and maintain resilience. In this context, we would like to express our appreciation for the activities of the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services to promote conflict competence at all levels of the Organization.

 

            My delegation notes with concern an increase in the number of pending cases before the Dispute Tribunal. We support extending the three ad litem judge positions for one year, from 1 January to 31 December 2016, and encourage good use of proactive case management by the tribunal judges in the promotion and successful settlement of disputes within the formal system.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            My delegation welcomes the establishment of a panel of independent experts to conduct an interim independent assessment, and looks forward to the recommendations of the independent panel together with the report and comments of the Secretary-General. We believe the recommendations and the associated comments will be comprehensive and cover all major aspects of the justice system, including continuation of the voluntary supplemental funding mechanism for the Office of Staff Legal Assistance.

 

            Finally, Mr. Chairman, my delegation is committed to participating positively and constructively in the negotiations toward achieving consensus on this important agenda item.

 

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.