CPD 1995

The Commission on Population and Development (former Population Commission) 28th session took place 21 February-2 March 1995. The following report was adopted by the Economic and Social Council Official Records in 1995.

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Contents

Summary

Introduction

I. Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council or brought to its attention
A. Draft decision
B. Matters brought to the attention of the Council

II. Review of population trends, policies and programmes
A. General debate on national experience in population matters
B. Monitoring of world population trends and policies
C. Monitoring of multilateral population assistance
D. Activities of the United Nations Population Fund

III. International Conference on Population and Development: Follow-up action to be taken by the United Nations

IV. Programme questions

V. Provisional agenda for the 29th session

VI. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its 28th session

VII. Organization of the session

Annexes
I. Views of the Commission on the implications for the Commission of follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development
II. Views of the Commission on programme questions

Introduction                                                                                             [ Up ]

1. The General Assembly, in its resolution 49/128 of 19 December 1994, decided that the Population Commission should be renamed the Commission on Population and Development and that it should meet on an annual basis. The Economic and Social Council, in its decision 1995/209 of 10 February 1995, having taken note of General Assembly resolution 49/128, endorsed the decisions in paragraphs 24 and 25 therein. The Commission on Population and Development held its twenty- eighth session at United Nations Headquarters from 21 February to 2 March 1995.

Chapter I. Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council or brought to its attention 

A. Draft decision                                                                                    [ Up ]

2. The Commission on Population and Development recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decision:

Report of the Commission on Population and Development on its twenty-eighth session and provisional agenda for the twenty-ninth session of the Commission

The Economic and Social Council:

(a) Takes note of the report of the Commission on Population and Development on its twenty-eighth session;

(b) Approves the provisional agenda for the twenty-ninth session of the Commission set out below.

Provisional agenda for the twenty-ninth session of the Commission on Population and Development

1. Election of officers.

2. Adoption of the agenda and organization of work.

3. Follow-up action to the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development, 1994.

4. Programme questions.

5. Adoption of the provisional agenda for the thirtieth session of the Commission.

6. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its twenty-ninth session.

B. Matters brought to the attention of the Council                             [ Up ]

3. The following decisions adopted by the Commission are brought to the attention of the Council:

Decision 1995/1. Follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development

The Commission on Population and Development, welcoming the results of the International Conference on Population and Development and the adoption of its Programme of Action,1/ bearing in mind Economic and Social Council resolutions 3 (III) of 3 October 1946 and 150 (VII) of 10 August 1948, which established the Population Commission and defined its terms of reference, as well as Council decision 87 (LVIII) of 6 May 1975 and resolutions 1985/4 of 28 May 1985 and 1986/7 of 21 May 1986, which expanded the mandate of the Commission, taking also into account General Assembly resolution 49/128 of 19 December 1994 on the report of the International Conference on Population and Development, in which the Assembly decided, inter alia, to rename the Population Commission the Commission on Population and Development and that the revitalized Commission should meet on an annual basis, having reviewed, at its twenty-eighth session, within its area of competence, the Programme of Action and its implications, decides to transmit its views on the implications for the Commission of the follow-up to the Conference to the Economic and Social Council for consideration at its substantive session of 1995 (see annex I to the present report).

1/Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (A/CONF.171/13 and Add.1), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.

Decision 1995/2. Programme questions

The Commission on Population and Development, bearing in mind the results of the International Conference on Population and Development and the adoption of its Programme of Action, 1/ taking into account General Assembly resolution 49/128 of 19 December 1994 on the report of the International Conference on Population and Development, having reviewed, at its twenty-eighth session, within its area of competence, the Programme of Action and its implications, recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1994/2 of 14 July 1994 on the work programme in the field of population and noting with satisfaction the progress made in implementing the work programme for the biennium 1994-1995, decides to transmit its views on programme questions to the Economic and Social Council for consideration at its substantive session of 1995 (see annex II to the present report).

Chapter II. Review of population trends, policies and programmes     [ Up ]

A. General debate on national experience in population matters         [ Up ]

4. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion of item 3 (a) of its agenda at its 1st meeting, on 21 February 1995.

5. Statements were made by the representatives of China, India, the Russian Federation and Pakistan.

B. Monitoring of world population trends and policies                        [ Up ]

6. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion of item 3 (b) of its agenda at its 1st meeting, on 21 February. It had before it the concise report of the Secretary-General on the monitoring of world population trends and policies (E/CN.9/1995/2).

7. The Assistant Director of the Population Division made an introductory statement.

8. Statements were also made by the representatives of the Russian Federation, Canada, Germany, France, the United States of America, Jamaica and China.

C. Monitoring of multilateral population assistance                            [ Up ]

9. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion of item 3 (c) of its agenda at its 2nd meeting, on 21 February. It had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the monitoring of multilateral population assistance (E/CN.9/1995/3).

10. The Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund made an introductory statement.

11. Statements were also made by the representatives of the Russian Federation, India, China, Germany and the United States of America and the observer for the Holy See.

D. Activities of the United Nations Population Fund                           [ Up ]

12. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion of item 3 (d) of its agenda at its 2nd and 3rd meetings, on 21 and 22 February. It had before it the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund on the activities of the Fund (E/CN.9/1995/4).

13. At the 2nd meeting, on 21 February, the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund made an introductory statement.

14. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the United States of America, India, Jamaica, Poland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

15. At the 3rd meeting, on 22 February, statements were made by the representatives of Japan, Mexico and Colombia and the observer for Norway.

Chapter III. International Conference on Population and development: Follow-up action to be taken by the United Nations                             [ Up ]

A. General discussion

16. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion of item 4 of its agenda at its 3rd to 5th, 8th and 9th meetings, on 22, 27 and 28 February 1995. It had before it the following documents:

(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the implications of the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development for the work programme on population (E/CN.9/1995/5);

(b) Report of the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 5-13 September 1994) (A/CONF.171/13 and Add.1).

17. At the 3rd meeting, on 22 February, the Director of the Population Division made an introductory statement.

18. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of France (on behalf of the European Union), China, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, the United States of America, Bangladesh, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Pakistan and the observer for Norway. Statements were also made by the representatives of the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

19. At the 4th meeting, on 22 February, statements were made by the representatives of India, France (on behalf of the European Union), Germany, Belgium and Mexico. The representative of the International Organization for Migration made a statement. The representative of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, a non- governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, category II, also made a statement.

20. At the 5th meeting, on 27 February, the representative of the World Health Organization made a statement.

21. At the 8th meeting, on 28 February, with the permission of the Commission, statements were made by the Co-Chairmen of the NGO Planning Committee for the International Conference on Population and Development.

22. At the 9th meeting, on 28 February, the representative of Population Communications International, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, Roster, made a statement.

B. Action taken by the Commission

23. At the 10th meeting, on 2 March, the Commission adopted a draft decision (E/CN.9/1995/L.2), entitled "Follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development", submitted by the Chairman on the basis of informal consultations (see chap. I, sect. B, decision 1995/1).

Chapter IV. Programme questions                                                        [ Up ]

A. General discussion

24. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion of item 5 of its agenda at its 8th and 9th meetings, on 28 February 1995. It had before it the following documents:

(a) Report of the Secretary-General entitled "Progress of work in the field of population, 1994: Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis" (E/CN.9/1995/6);

(b) Note by the Secretary-General on the programme of work in population for the biennium 1996-1997 (E/CN.9/1995/7);

(c) Note by the Secretary-General entitled "Proposed programme of work for the biennium 1996-1997: population (Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis)" (E/CN.9/1995/CRP.1).

25. At the 8th meeting, on 28 February, the Director of the Population Division made an introductory statement. Statements were also made by the Chief of the Fertility and Family Planning Section, the Chief of the Mortality and Migration Section and the Chief of the Estimates and Projections Section of the Population Division.

26. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the United States of America, China, the Russian Federation, Pakistan, Germany, Japan, Bangladesh, India, France, Canada, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Netherlands and the observers for Austria and Norway.

27. At the 9th meeting, on 28 February, statements were made by the Chief of the Population Policy Section of the Population Division, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the Population Division, the Assistant Director of the Population Division, the Director of the Population Division and the Chief of the Demographic and Social Statistics Branch of the Statistical Division.

28. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Germany, France, the United States of America, Japan, Pakistan and India and the observer for Norway. Statements were also made the representatives of the Economic Commission for Africa, the Economic Commission for Europe, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

B. Action taken by the Commission

29. At the 10th meeting, on 2 March, the Commission adopted a draft decision entitled "Programme questions", submitted by the Chairman on the basis of informal consultations (see chap. II, sect. B, decision 1995/2).

Chapter V. Provisional agenda for the 29th session                             [ Up ]

30. At the 10th meeting, on 2 March, the Commission approved the draft provisional agenda for its twenty-ninth session (see chap. I, sect. A), which was drawn up on the basis of annex I, section III, to the present report.

Chapter VI. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its 28th session                                                                                                                    [ Up ]

31. At the 10th meeting, on 2 March, the Vice-Chairman-cum-Rapporteur introduced and orally revised the draft report of the Commission on its twenty-eighth session (E/CN.9/1995/L.3 and Add.1).

32. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft report, as revised and amended during the discussion.

Chapter VII. Organization of the session                                               [ Up ]

A. Opening and duration of the session

33. The Commission on Population and Development held its twenty- eighth session at United Nations Headquarters from 21 February to 2 March 1995. The Commission held 10 meetings (1st to 10th).

34. The session was opened by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis.

35. Introductory statements were made by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund and the Director of the Population Division.

B. Attendance

36. The session was attended by 22 States members of the Commission. Observers for other States Members of the United Nations and two non- member States also attended. Representatives of specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations also attended. A list of participants is given in annex III to the present report.

C. Election of officers

37. At the 1st, 6th and 7th meetings, on 21 and 27 February 1995, the Commission elected the following officers by acclamation:

Chairman: Ruth Archibald (Canada)

Vice-Chairmen: Jose Gomez de Leon (Mexico) Jerzy Z. Holzer (Poland) Abderrazak Azaiez (Tunisia)

Vice-Chairman- cum-Rapporteur: V. K. Shunglu (India)

D. Agenda

38. At the 1st meeting, on 21 February, the Commission adopted the provisional agenda contained in document E/CN.9/1995/1, as orally revised. The agenda was as follows:

1. Election of officers.

2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.

3. Review of population trends, policies and programmes:

(a)General debate on national experience in population matters;

(b)Monitoring of world population trends and policies;

(c)Monitoring of multilateral population assistance;

(d) Activities of the United Nations Population Fund.

4. International Conference on Population and Development: follow-up action to be taken by the United Nations:

(a)Consideration of the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development;

(b)Implications of the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development for the work programme on population.

5. Programme questions:

(a)Programme performance and implementation;

(b)Proposed programme of work for the biennium 1996-1997.

6. Provisional agenda for the twenty-ninth session of the Commission.

7. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its twenty-eighth session.

E. Documentation

39. The documents before the Commission are listed in annex IV to the present report.

F. Consultation with non-governmental organizations

40. In accordance with rule 76 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, representatives of the following non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Council made statements in connection with agenda item 4.

Category II: International Union for the Scientific Study of Population

Roster: Population Communications International.

Annex I. Views of the Commission on Population and Development on the implications for the Commission of follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development                                         [ Up ]

I. FUNCTIONING OF THE COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

1. In the context of the role of the Economic and Social Council in overall guidance and coordination, the Commission on Population and Development should have primary responsibility for reviewing the follow-up and implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, reporting through the Council to the General Assembly, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 49/128. It will also be necessary to keep in mind the need to develop a common framework for a coherent follow-up to United Nations summits and conferences.

2. The Secretary-General is requested to ensure that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, set up by the Secretary-General, be established on a permanent basis and be accountable, through the Commission, for system-wide coordination and that any other coordination mechanism be so accountable.

3. In view of the increasing importance of intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions in population activities, they should be invited to participate in the Conference monitoring and evaluation process to the maximum extent possible.

A. Proposed terms of reference

4. The Commission on Population and Development shall assist the Council by:

(a) Arranging for studies and advising the Council on:

(i) Population issues and trends, including determinants and consequences; (ii) Integrating population and development strategies;

(iii) Population and related development policies and programmes;

(iv) Provision of population assistance, upon request, to developing countries and, on a temporary basis, to countries with economies in transition;

(v) Any other population and development questions on which either the principal or the subsidiary organs of the United Nations or the specialized agencies may seek advice;

(b) Monitoring, reviewing and assessing the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development at the national, regional and global levels, identifying reasons for success and failure, and advising the Council thereon. Such considerations shall include:

(i) Adopting a topic-oriented and prioritized multi-year work programme, culminating in a quinquennial review and appraisal of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. That work programme, inter alia, will provide a framework to assess the progress achieved in the implementation of the Programme of Action;

(ii) Monitoring the implementation of the Programme of Action through periodic reports on population trends and policies, population programmes and population and related development activities;

(iii) Reviewing on a regular basis the flow of financial resources and the funding mechanisms to achieve the goals and objectives of the Programme of Action;

(iv) Undertaking a quinquennial review and appraisal of the progress made in achieving the goals and objectives of the Programme of Action and in implementing its recommendations, and reporting its findings to the Council;

(v) Maintaining and enhancing public attention and support for the implementation of the Programme of Action, through the dissemination of its monitoring, review and assessment reports in a concise and clear format;

(vi) Considering the reports of the meetings of inter-agency mechanisms established by the Secretary-General to ensure coordination, collaboration and harmonization in the implementation of the Programme of Action;

(vii) Considering reports on the activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for the implementation of the Programme of Action, in accordance with the arrangements adopted by the Economic and Social Council for consultation with those organizations;

(c) Providing appropriate recommendations to the Economic and Social Council, on the basis of an integrated consideration of the reports and issues related to the implementation of the Programme of Action.

B. Membership, composition and term of office

C. Duration of meetings

5. The Commission on Population and Development shall meet once a year, beginning in 1996, normally for a period of five working days.

II. SECRETARIAT SUPPORT, MANAGEMENT, INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION AND RESOURCE BASE

6. The responsibility for the servicing of the Commission should be with the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis. While the Population Division of the Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis is the body with the competency to cover the monitoring and appraisal of the broad range of areas covered by the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, other United Nations bodies, including the regional commissions, and agencies have the leading role in critical areas of national, regional and programmatic implementation of the Programme of Action and should be given appropriate responsibility for providing the relevant information to enable the Commission to make informed judgements about progress. In particular, it is essential that the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) collaborate closely with the Population Division in this regard.

7. The Commission should continue to act as the governing body for the Population Division. A reassessment of priorities and internal organization of the Division in response to the Programme of Action is necessary. Work in the Division on basic population trends, on the evolution of population policies, on understanding links between population and development and on the crucial underpinnings of population estimates and projections will need to continue.

8. The Population Division is in a unique position to access, analyse and evaluate comparative international information and its international staff play a crucial role in understanding global population and development issues. In doing so, the Division should continue to take maximum advantage of relevant research work being undertaken at universities, research centres and other institutions.

9. In order to augment its own activities and better serve the Commission, the Population Division should consider the establishment of ad hoc working groups, in collaboration with relevant bodies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions.

10. The Commission should address ways of ensuring that the Population Division has adequate staff of high quality in specialist areas. A high-quality professional multidisciplinary team of policy-oriented and informed researchers is required, inter alia, for the Division's role in monitoring and appraisal of the International Conference on Population and Development. Increasing staff effectiveness in the work programme and its execution is necessary for success.

11. The monitoring and appraisal of the implementation of the Programme of Action has to be resourced at an appropriate level.

12. All documentation should be kept concise, crisp and clear, with a focus on relevant issues. It must be available in all official languages in accordance with the rules of the United Nations and in no instance later than two weeks before the start of meetings.

III. WORK PROGRAMME OF THE COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Proposed agenda and documentation

1. Election of officers.

2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters:

(a) Provisional agenda (E/CN.9/year/1);

(b) Organization of the work of the session (E/CN.9/year/L.1).

3. Follow-up actions to the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development, 1994:

In the light of paragraph 4 (b) (i) above, calling for a topic- oriented and prioritized multi-year work programme, the following thematic calendar is proposed:

1996: Reproductive rights and reproductive health, including population information, education and communication (chap. 7, including relevant aspects of chaps. 4, 5, 8, 11 and 12);

1997: International migration, with special emphasis on the linkages between migration and development, and on gender issues and the family (chap. 10, with special emphasis on relevant aspects of chaps. 4, 5 and 12);

1998: Health and mortality, with special emphasis on the linkages between health and development, and on gender and age (chap. 8, with special emphasis on relevant aspects of chaps. 4, 5, 6 and 12);

1999: Population growth, structure and distribution, with special emphasis on sustained economic growth and sustainable development, including education (chaps. 3 and 9 and relevant aspects of chaps. 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12). In addition, in 1999, the Commission will consider the quinquennial review and appraisal of the implementation of the Programme of Action (all chapters, see report (8) below).

The following reports, (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7), will be prepared annually. Report (8) will be prepared quinquennially. Reports (3), (4), (5) and (6) will focus on selected themes. Reports (7) and (8) will cover all aspects of the Programme of Action. Based on experience, the status of reports (4), (5) and (6) and their relationship to report (3) will be reassessed with the aim of achieving a holistic, integrated monitoring of the implementation of the Programme of Action.

(3) World Population Monitoring. This will be an annual report on a special set of themes of the Programme of Action. Its preparation will be coordinated by the Population Division. In their in-depth consideration of the annual set of themes, each of these reports could be structured so as to give adequate attention to, inter alia, the following items: (a) issues and trends, with appropriate attention to progress to date, cross-cutting concerns and problems of different regions and subregions, including developing countries; (b) relevant policies, plans, programmes and activities of Governments, the United Nations system and non- governmental organizations, and what is known about their impact; (c) priority areas for future action; and (d) requirements for data, indicators and future research. A concise summary of the report will be made available in all the official languages.

(4) Report of the Secretary-General on the monitoring of population programmes. This report will review progress with respect to population programmes and related development activities. In particular, it will focus on country-level implementation of the Programme of Action. It is suggested that UNFPA coordinate the preparation of this report on an annual basis.

(5) Report of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Implementation of the Programme of Action. The General Assembly, in its resolution 49/128, called upon the organs and organizations of the United Nations system and the specialized agencies to undertake actions required to give full and effective support to the implementation of the Programme of Action (para. 10). It requested the specialized agencies and all related organizations of the United Nations system to review and, where necessary, adjust their programmes and activities in line with the Programme of Action and take appropriate measures to ensure its full and effective implementation, taking into account the specific needs of developing countries (para. 22). It also requested the Council to consider the submission of recommendations to the Secretary-General regarding the establishment of an appropriate inter-agency coordination, collaboration and harmonization mechanism for the implementation of the Programme of Action (para. 28 (c)). At the request of the Secretary-General, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme asked the Executive Director of UNFPA, who served as Secretary-General of the International Conference on Population and Development, to convene and chair an inter-agency task force to develop a coordinated approach for the implementation of the Programme of Action. It is the view of the Commission that the Task Force's work should be expanded to include migration issues. This report would review progress and action of the Inter-Agency Task Force in ensuring system-wide collaboration in the implementation of the Programme of Action, with special emphasis on the theme of the year. It would also identify any areas where collaboration has met with difficulties.

(6) Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. The format and modalities for the preparation of this report will be the subject of further discussions.

(7) Report of the Secretary-General on the flow of financial resources for assisting in the implementation of the Programme of Action. This report has been requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 49/128 (para. 18). The proposed report would review and analyse the flow of financial resources for assisting in the implementation of the Programme of Action. It would provide data on levels and trends in population assistance and would report on efforts undertaken among members of the donor community to fulfil recommendations specified in paragraph 14.11 of the Programme of Action. It would review the flow of financial resources and the funding mechanisms to achieve the goals and objectives of the Programme of Action. It would also cover the results of the efforts made to exchange information on the requirements for international assistance among members of the donor community and other consultations held. It is suggested that UNFPA coordinate the preparation of the report, taking into account the inputs of all member States and of relevant parts of the United Nations system and of intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations.

(8) Report of the Secretary-General on the review and appraisal of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. The General Assembly, in its resolution 49/128, requested the Council to consider a quinquennial review and appraisal of the progress made in achieving the goals and objectives of the Programme of Action. A similar quinquennial assessment was requested by the World Population Conference, in 1974, as it has been the practice of major conferences organized by the United Nations. The Population Division has coordinated the preparation of the quinquennial report for 1979, 1984, 1989 and 1994, with the participation of all relevant units, bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as selected intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.

4. Programme questions:

(9) Report of the Secretary-General on progress of work in the field of population, [corresponding biennium] (including special technical studies as requested by the Commission).

(10) Note by the Secretary-General on proposed programme of work for the [corresponding biennium]. Both reports, on the work accomplished during the previous biennium and on the proposed programme of work for the next biennium, refer exclusively to the activities of the Population Division and correspond to the specifications of the population programme that are contained in the corresponding medium-term plan.

5. Provisional agenda for the [next] session of the Commission:

(11) Draft provisional agenda for the [next] session of the Commission on Population and Development. At the end of each session, the Commission prepares a draft provisional agenda for its next session. The draft provisional agenda is submitted to the Council, as part of the report of the Commission. The Council, then, makes a decision on the proposed text and it is issued as the provisional agenda for the next session of the Commission.

Annex II. Views of the Commission on Population and Development on programme questions                                                                             [ Up ]

1. The Commission has reviewed the work programme for the biennium 1996-1997. It underlines the need for the work programme to take fully into account the outcome of the International Conference on Population and Development and forthcoming conferences and summits such as the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women and the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), and the ongoing consideration of an agenda for development, as well as annex I to the present report. It suggests that the work programme:

(a) Continue to give high priority to the monitoring of population trends and policies;

(b) Undertake biennial preparation of estimates and projections of global, national, urban, rural and city populations, including demographic indicators and age structure, in order to provide internationally comparable data as the basis for policy and programme formulation and implementation;

(c) Conduct studies on population and related development policies;

(d) Prepare studies on interactions of population change, including ageing and changing family structures, and social, economic and environmental factors;

(e) Carry out analyses of mortality, in particular differentials between population subgroups, including gender and age differentials, and factors underlying such differentials;

(f) Contribute to and coordinate in-depth studies on fertility and nuptiality and reproductive rights and health, including family planning;

(g) Undertake studies to improve the understanding of the causes and consequences of (i) internal migration and (ii) international migration and to document trends and policies related to migration;

(h) Disseminate information on and promote the understanding of population and development issues;

(i) Utilize new communication and information technologies to further strengthen and expand the Population Information Network (POPIN) in order to increase public awareness and information exchange on population and development issues;

(j) Make the necessary arrangements for coordinating the review and appraisal of the Programme of Action;

(k) Provide technical cooperation support to developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, and, on a temporary basis, to countries with economies in transition in the light of the economic and social problems these countries face at present;

(l) Ensure that all the above activities give due consideration to gender-disaggregation, enhancing knowledge on the position and role of gender in social and demographic processes.

2. The Commission stressed that the Population Division should continue to work closely with States, organizations of the United Nations system, other intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, as appropriate, in the implementation of programmes.

3. The Commission noted that the follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development would require the Population Division to be involved in new work such as the elaboration of reproductive health indicators and the interrelationship between migration and development. The Commission recommends the strengthening of the Secretariat in the field of population, from within existing resources, in order to ensure adequate preparation and support for the Commission on Population and Development.

[ Up ]

United Nations Document E/1995/27 E/CN.9/1995/8

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