1 December 2011: The UN General Assembly’s Second Committee has adopted two draft resolutions pertaining to small island developing States (SIDS), on the follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation (MSI) of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS, and the follow-up to the Fourth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC IV).

Adopted under the Committee’s agenda item on sustainable development, on 17 November 2011, the draft resolution on the MSI (A/C.2/66/L.51) would have the UNGA: acknowledge the importance of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) and note the ongoing preparatory process; note the two reports from the UN Secretary-General – on concrete recommendations to enhance implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA) for the Sustainable Development of SIDS and the MSI, and on the review of UN support to SIDS; stress the need for continued substantive consideration of the MSI’s implementation; and decide to consider the two reports at the UNGA’s 67th session.

Adopted under the agenda item on Groups of countries in special situations, on 1 December 2011, the draft resolution on LDCs (A/C.2/66/L.61) would have the UNGA call on LDCs, development partners, the UN system and international financial institutions, developing countries, and the private sector to integrate the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) into their work, as appropriate, to ensure implementation and delivery of commitments. LDCs are specifically urged to broaden their existing country review mechanisms, including those for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the implementation of poverty reduction strategy papers, common country assessments and UN Development Assistance Frameworks, and the existing consultative mechanisms to cover the review of the IPoA.

Additional requests to the UN system include: a joint gap and capacity analysis to be conducted by 2013, to be initiated by the UN Secretary-General, with the aim of establishing a technology bank and science, technology and innovation mechanism dedicated to LDCs; an Ad Hoc Working Group to be established by the President of the UNGA, to further study and strengthen the smooth transition process for the countries graduating from the LDC category and to submit a report and recommendations to the UNGA at its 67th session; the continued efforts of the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) to assist the Secretary-General for the effective follow-up and monitoring of the implementation of the IPoA, to raise awareness regarding LDCs, and to support LDCs’ group consultations; that OHRLLS be provided with the necessary support for these tasks; and that the UN Secretary-General submit to the UNGA at its 67th session a progress report on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020.[Draft Resolution on Follow-up to MSI] [Draft Resolution on Follow-up to LDC IV]