6 August 2018: The 72nd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution on the upcoming migration conference and a decision with plans for high-level meetings in 2019, including meetings related to the UNGA’s 2019 General Debate, the 2030 Agenda, universal health coverage (UHC) and small island developing States (SIDS).

In its resolution titled, ‘Modalities for the Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration’ (A/72/L.67), the UNGA recommends that the conference result in the adoption of an intergovernmental negotiated and agreed outcome titled, ‘Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.’ The preparatory process for the global compact started in April 2017 and comprised a consultation phase (thematic sessions, regional consultations and stakeholder consultations), a stocktaking phase and six months of intergovernmental negotiations. The UNGA resolution also recommends provisional rules of procedure for the conference, including the election of conference officers, composition of delegates attending the conference and conduct of business. [Resolution A/72/L.67] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on July Conclusion of Global Compact Negotiations]

The high-level meeting on UHC will approve a “concise and action-oriented political declaration.”

The UNGA adopted a decision titled, ‘High-level Meetings of the General Assembly in September 2019’ (A/72/L.66), which outlines arrangements for the 74th session of the UNGA’s General Debate. The General Debate will take place from 24-28 September and on 30 September. The decision also shares plans to convene the following meetings: a high-level dialogue on financing for development (FfD) on 23 September 2019; a meeting of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) under the auspices of the General Assembly for one-and-a-half days on 24-25 September; a high-level meeting on UHC on 26 September 2019; and a high-level meeting to review progress made in addressing the priorities of SIDS through the implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway on 27 September 2019. The UNGA also decided that each high-level meeting will not have any parallel meetings. [Decision A/72/L.66]

Also on UHC, the UNGA adopted a decision titled, ‘Scope, Modalities, Format and Organization of the High‑level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage’ (A/72/L.65). The UNGA decided that the high-level meeting will focus on the theme, ‘UHC: Moving Together to Build a Healthier World,’ and will approve a “concise and action-oriented political declaration” that will be agreed in advance by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations. The decision recognizes the commitment to achieve UHC by 2030, as agreed through the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and details the meeting’s organizational arrangements. The meeting will consist of an opening segment, a plenary segment, two multi-stakeholder panels and a closing segment. [Decision A/72/L.65] [UN Meeting Coverage]