Sixth Committee (Legal) — 70th session
Observer status for the Indian Ocean Rim Association in the General Assembly (Agenda item 172)
- Item proposed by Australia (A/70/192)
Documentation
- Charter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
- Rules of Procedure of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
Summary of work
Background (source: A/70/200)
By the letter dated 6 August 2015 (A/70/192) addressed to the Secretary-General, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia requested the inclusion of this item in the provisional agenda of the seventieth session.
Consideration at the seventieth session
The Sixth Committee considered the item at its 11th and 16th meetings, on 19 and 26 October 2015 (see A/C.6/70/SR.11 and 16).
Statements were made by the representatives of Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Iran (Islamic Republic of), South Africa, Kenya and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
Some delegations supported the request for observer status of the Indian Ocean Rim Association. It was highlighted that the Association provided a potential mechanism to combat transnational crimes.
Action taken by the Sixth Committee
At the 11th meeting, on 19 October, the representative of Australia, on behalf of Australia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United Republic of Tanzania introduced a draft resolution entitled “Observer status for the Indian Ocean Rim Association in the General Assembly” (A/C.6/70/L.8). Subsequently, Mauritius, Seychelles and the United States of America joined in sponsoring the draft resolution.
At its 16th meeting, on 26 October, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.6/70/L.8 without a vote.
Under this draft resolution, the General Assembly would decide to invite the Indian Ocean Rim Association to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; and would request the Secretary-General to take the action necessary to implement the resolution.
Subsequent action taken by the General Assembly
