1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 142: Pattern of Conferences.

2. The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank Mr. Denis Ishikawa dos Sandos, Chair of the Committee on Conferences, Ms. Sharon Brennen-Haylock, Vice-Chair of the Advisory Committee for Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), and the Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, Mr. Movses Abelian for introducing their respective reports.

3. The Group commends the Committee on Conferences for the important work conducted during its session in September 2024 and for the quality of its report. The Group hopes that the proposed draft resolution will serve as a good basis for the consideration of this agenda item. In this regard, the Group notes the recommendation of the ACABQ to discontinue its report on the annual report on the pattern of conferences and looks forward to understanding its implication during the informal consideration of the agenda item.

Madam Chair,

4. The Group expresses its profound gratitude to the staff of the DGACM for their continued efforts to support the works of the intergovernmental bodies and in facilitating the Organization to fulfill its mandates. The Group emphasizes the importance of quality conference services in accordance with the equal treatment of all six official languages of the United Nations in support of the work of the intergovernmental and expert bodies of the United Nations.

5. The Group reiterates that this Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Member States, as it is enshrined in the United Nations Charter. This principle must be ensured at every moment including in the conference modalities which must not allow for different treatment among Member States, including by preventing any impediments that would hinder the equal and full participation of all member states.

Madam Chair,

6. The Group notes that the liquidity crisis facing the Organization has led to a recruitment freeze which particularly affects the staff in the language services. We commend and encourage continued efforts to reach out to language professionals, especially from the regions of Africa and Latin American and Caribbean, as a means of diversifying language backgrounds and promoting the equitable geographical representation of the staff.

7. The Group notes and welcomes the measures taken to ensure access to and use of conference services and conference facilities for persons with disabilities, including the continued assistance of the Accessibility Centre and the use of sign language services. We encourage the Secretary General to continue his efforts to ensure accessibility of all individuals to all duty stations.

8. Relatedly, the Group recalls the comprehensive proposal to address the deteriorating conditions and the limited capacity of the UNON Conference Center and looks forward to the project.

9. To Conclude, the Group of 77 and China emphasizes adherence to the guidelines and procedures contained in the administrative instruction for the authorization of the use of United Nations premises for meetings, conferences, special events and exhibits. We recall that every activity hosted in its facilities must be consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

I thank you.