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
VI.
A/RES/70/303
Conduct of business
Rule 19
Quorum
The presiding President may declare a meeting open and permit the debate to
proceed when at least one third of the representatives of the States participating in
the Conference are present. The presence of representatives of a majorit y of the
States so participating shall be required for any decision to be taken.
Rule 20
Speeches
1.
No representative may address the Conference without having previously
obtained the permission of the presiding President. Subject to rules 21, 22 and 25 to
27, the presiding President shall call upon speakers in the order in which they
indicate their desire to speak. The secretariat shall be in charge of drawing up a list
of speakers.
2.
Debate shall be confined to the question before the Conference and th e
presiding President may call a speaker to order if his/her remarks are not relevant to
the subject under discussion.
3.
The Conference may limit the time allowed to each speaker and the number of
times each participant may speak on any question. Permissi on to speak on a motion
to set such limits shall be accorded to only two representatives in favour of and to
two opposing such limits, after which the motion shall be immediately put to the
vote. In any event, with the consent of the Conference, the presid ing President shall
limit each intervention on procedural matters to five minutes. When the debate is
limited and a speaker exceeds the allotted time, the presiding President shall call
him/her to order without delay.
Rule 21
Points of order
During the discussion of any matter, a representative may at any time raise a
point of order, which shall be immediately decided by the presiding President in
accordance with the present rules. A representative may appeal against the ruling of
the presiding President. The appeal shall be immediately put to the vote, and the
presiding President’s ruling shall stand unless overruled by a majority of the
representatives present and voting. A representative may not, in raising a point of
order, speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.
Rule 22
Precedence
The Chair or the Rapporteur-General of the Main Committee, or the
representative of a subcommittee or working group, may be accorded precedence for
the purpose of explaining the conclusions arrived at by the body concerned.
Rule 23
Closing of the list of speakers
During the course of a debate, the presiding President may announce the list of
speakers and, with the consent of the Conference, declare the list closed.
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