RESOLUTION 2018-1

Recalling Resolution 2016-1, which the International Whaling Commission adopted by consensus to establish a comprehensive, independent review of its institutional and governance arrangements;
Noting the importance of continuing to work towards consensus agreement on reforming the Commission;
Reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to ensure it aligns its institutional and governance arrangements with best practice for contemporary multilateral treaty bodies, notwithstanding any difference in views among Commission members on substantive matters;
Gratefully acknowledging the work of the independent review panel selected to conduct the review in accordance with the Terms of Reference for an Independent Review of the International Whaling Commission;
Recognising the extensive outreach the review panel undertook to reach an informed view, including through soliciting the views of all Commission members, the Secretariat, accredited observers, and representatives of other multilateral treaty bodies;
Noting that the review panel submitted a final report on 8 April 2018, and that the report provides recommendations for institutional and governance reform, and calls on the Commission to develop an implementation plan for reform;
Noting that a number of the panel’s recommendations are already underway;
Further recognising the need for the Commission to respond to the independent review panel’s report in a timely and considered way, and ensure the Commission is on a clear path to becoming a more accountable and effective organisation.
Now, therefore the Commission:
Acknowledges receipt of the independent review panel’s report, which provides a basis upon which to progress reform of the Commission’s institutional and governance arrangements;
Adopts the report of the Working Group on Operational Effectiveness, and considering the recommendations of the independent review panel’s report, DIRECTS the Working Group on Operational Effectiveness to develop a plan to implement reforms that will improve the institutional and governance arrangements of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies, to be presented to the 68th meeting of the Commission;
Requests subsidiary bodies, contracting governments and accredited observers continue to work with the Working Group on Operational Effectiveness for the development of a plan to implement the reforms that will improve institutional and governance arrangements of the Commission;
Agrees to the Terms of Reference for the Working Group on Operational Effectiveness found at Annex A;
Further agrees that existing work to improve governance and accountability being progressed by the Secretariat, the Bureau or other relevant subsidiary bodies as identified in Annex B should continue.