Noting that 2016 is the 70ᵗʰ anniversary of agreement to the International Convention for the
Regulation of
Whaling;
Recognising that there are different views concerning the priority of the Commission's objectives
and mandates among Commission member states due to the different positions on whales and whaling;
Notwithstanding the difference in positions, aware of the importance of ensuring the Commission's
institutional and governance arrangements are aligned with best practice for contemporary
multilateral treaty bodies;
Acknowledging the progress the Commission has made in this respect, including through inter a/ia,
strengthening the Finance and Administration Committee, moving to a biennial meeting pattern,
establishing a Bureau to facilitate the work of the Commission during the intersessional period,
enhancing the role of civil society in the Commission and creating an Operational Effectiveness
Working Group;
Recognising that the Commission's continued effectiveness is contingent upon further reform;
Noting that a more comprehensive review of the Commission's institutional and governance
arrangements will enable the efficient prioritisation of opportunities for reform;
Further noting that independent reviews are best practice in multilateral treaty bodies, and have
been used to strengthen institutional and governance arrangements in a number of organisations.
Now, therefore the Commission:
Agrees to a comprehensive, independent review of the Commission's institutional and governance
arrangements, based on Terms of Reference contained in the annex to this Resolution;
Calls upon Contracting Governments to make voluntary contributions to support this review;
Agrees to establish, during the 66th meeting of the Commission, a Steering Group of Contracting
Governments representing a range of views and interests to select a panel to conduct the review in
the intersessional period;
Agrees that the review will be conducted by a panel of three independent reviewers selected by the
Steering Group, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair ofthe Commission, following a limited
tender application processl;
Agrees that the review panel submit a report to the Executive Secretary, in accordance with the
Terms of Reference contained in the annex to this Resolution, for discussion at the 67th meeting of
the Commission;
Agrees that the Secretariat circulates the report to Contracting Governments and Accredited
Observers, and to the Working Group on Operational Effectiveness; and
Requests that the Working Group on Operational Effectiveness consider the report and submit a
proposal to guide the Commission in responding to the recommendations of the review at least 60
days in advance of the 67th meeting of the Commission.
¹ Limited tender means seeking applications from a small number of suitably qualified people or
organisations as opposed to a process open to any applicants.