Modalities for the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development A/RES/70/303 subsequent request by the Governments of Fiji and Sweden to change the venue of the Conference, 5 1. Decides that the high-level United Nations Conference to Support Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development shall convened at United Nations Headquarters from 5 to 9 June 2017, in view of exceptional circumstances; the use be the 2. Also decides that the Governments of Fiji and Sweden shall retain co-hosting responsibilities by assuming the costs of the Conference and its preparatory process; 3. Further decides that the Conference shall: (a) Identify ways and means to support the implementatio n of Sustainable Development Goal 14; (b) Build on existing successful partnerships and stimulate innovative and concrete new partnerships to advance the implementation of Goal 14; (c) Involve all relevant stakeholders, bringing together Governments, t he United Nations system, other intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations and other actors to assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Goal 14; (d) Share the experiences gained at the national, regional and international levels in the implementation of Goal 14; (e) Contribute to the follow-up and review process of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 1 by providing an input to the high-level political forum on sustainable development, in accordance with resolutions 67/290 of 9 July 2013, 70/1 of 25 September 2015 and 70/299 of 29 July 2016, on the implementation of Goal 14, including on opportunities to strengthen progress in the future; 4. Decides that the overarching theme of the Conference shall be “Our oceans, our future: partnering for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14”; 5. Encourages participation in the Conference at the highest possible level; 6. Decides that the Conference shall elect from among the representatives of participating States the following officers: two Presidents, one from Fiji and one from Sweden, and 13 Vice-Presidents, 6 one of whom shall be designated as Rapporteur-General; 7. Also decides that the Conference shall comprise eight plenary meetings and seven partnership dialogues, to be held from 5 to 9 June 2017, and shall include a special event commemorating World Oceans Day, on 8 June 2017; _______________ 5 See A/70/1027. Three from each of the following groups: African States; Asia-Pacific States; Eastern European States; Latin American and Caribbean States; and Western European and other States. The election of the Presidents will, however, have the effect of reducing by one the number of Vice-Presidents allocated to the regions from which each of the Presidents is elected. 6 2/22