30 August 2016: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has released a compilation of documents in advance of its 71st regular session. The documents address and make recommendations on, inter alia: poverty eradication, including in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; budgetary implications for a UNGA meeting on refugees and migrants; literacy for life; and the programme of work on an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).

‘Implementation of the Second UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017) (A/71/181)’ highlights, inter alia: declines in incidences of poverty in all regions of the world, with less pronounced progress in sub-Saharan Africa; increases in poverty in developing countries, particularly on child poverty; and progress in reducing non-monetary poverty. The report stresses it is critical to pay particular attention to addressing poverty in Africa and in the least developed countries (LDCs) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights the role of decent work and inclusive growth to reduce poverty and inequality, among other issues.

The report recommends the UNGA, inter alia: develop policy tools, with the support of the UN system, to reach those furthest behind; implement economic and social policies that promote inclusive growth, job creation, poverty eradication and inequality reduction; boost investments in education and health; promote women’s economic empowerment, access to women and youth to decent employment and work to reduce the gender gap in the labor market; facilitate structural change that fosters sustained economic growth; strengthen social protection measures to reduce the vulnerability of workers and their families to shocks and structural change; and draw lessons from the Second UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly on improving data and monitoring systems, harnessing partnerships and showcasing innovative initiatives and strategies to eradicate poverty and create jobs. The report recommends the UN system, inter alia: support Member States in implementing the 2030 Agenda and the Second Decade by strengthening coordination, coherence and synergies; and assist countries in closing gaps between policies and capacity to deliver.

Revised estimates resulting from the decisions contained in UNGA Resolution 70/290, titled ‘High-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants’ (A/71/345) presents budgetary requirements as a result of the UNGA Resolution 70/290. The Resolution requests the organization of a high-level meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants that will result in an outcome document. To carry out this meeting, the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will require an additional US$305,000 for the biennium 2016-2017. The resolution requests the UNGA to approve an additional appropriation, as a charge against the contingency fund, for this purpose.

The ‘Report of the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on literacy for life: shaping future agendas and on education for democracy (A/71/177)’ shares UNESCO’s efforts to advance literacy across the world, including in the context of the education-related SDGs. SDG Target 4.6 aims to ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy by 2030. The report recommends the UNGA, inter alia: recognize literacy as part of the right to education; call on governments to scale up literacy programmes for children, youth and adults, particularly disadvantaged and marginalized groups; and call on UNESCO to continue to play a coordinating role in implementing recommendations and supporting Member States in achieving the education-related SDGs.

The ‘Provisional programme of work of the Preparatory Committee established by UNGA resolution 69/292: Development of an international legally binding instrument under the UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of ABNJ (A/AC.287/2016/PC.2/L.2)’ provides the work programme for the PrepCom.

Various other documents related to the UNGA 71’s progamme of work are available, including: on the rights of indigenous peoples; a political declaration of the High-level Midterm Review of the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the LDCs for the Decade 2011-2020; the World Social Situation 2016; a report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); a report of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); on violence against children; and on the elimination of female genital mutilations.

UNGA 71 will open on 13 September 2016. [Compilation Website] [Document A/71/345] [Document A/71/181] [Document A/71/177] [Document A/AC.287/2016/PC.2/L.2]