CPD 1996

The Commission on Population and Development twenty-ninth session took place 26 February-1 March 1996. The following report was adopted by the Economic and Social Council in 1996.

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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 resolution
B. Draft decision
C. Matters brought to the attention of the Council

II. General debate on national experience in population matters

III. Follow-up action to the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development: Reproductive rights and reproductive health
A. General discussion
B. Action taken by the Commission

IV. Programme questions
A. General discussion
B. Action taken by the Commission

V. Provisional agenda for the 30th session of the Commission

VI. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its 29th session

VII. Organization of the session

Introduction

1. In its decision 1995/320 of 12 December 1995, which was endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 50/124 of 20 December 1995, the Economic and Social Council increased the membership of the Commission on Population and Development from 27 to 47.

2. The Commission on Population and Development held its twenty- ninth session at United Nations Headquarters from 26 February to 1 March 1996.

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

A. Draft resolution

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

Follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development

The Economic and Social Council,

Bearing in mind the results of the International Conference on Population and Development and the adoption of its Programme of Action1/ and taking into account General Assembly resolution 49/128 of 19 December 1994 on the report of the International Conference on Population and Development, as well as Assembly resolution 50/124 of 20 December 1995 and Economic and Social Council resolution 1995/55 of 28 July 1995 on the implementation of the Programme of Action,

Having reviewed the report of the Commission on Population and Development on its twenty-ninth session,

Recalling the terms of reference and multi-year work programme of the Commission, endorsed by the Council in its resolution 1995/55,

1. Stresses the need for all the reports prepared as part of the multi-year work programme of the Commission on Population and Development to be based on comprehensive and reliable information, for the final version of the reports to take fully into account the observations of the Commission and for the reports to be widely disseminated in accordance with the terms of reference of the Commission;

2. Also stresses the need to ensure that the deliberations of the Commission fully reflect its updated and enhanced mandate, taking into account the integrated, multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development;

3. Welcomes the newly constituted Task Force on Basic Social Services of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, under the current chairmanship of the United Nations Population Fund, and requests the Task Force to make appropriate arrangements to ensure coordination, collaboration and harmonization in the implementation of all aspects of the Programme of Action, as decided by the Commission at its twenty-eighth session, and to continue to report thereon to the Commission;

4. Requests that a revised version of the report of the Secretary-General relating to the activities of the non-governmental sector in the area of reproductive rights and reproductive health be submitted to the Commission at its thirty-first session, in 1998, based on a more comprehensive survey of the sector and a clearer explanation of the selection criteria and categorization of the organizations consulted, and incorporating examples of cooperation between Governments and non-governmental organizations, in both developing and developed countries;

5. Decides to invite non-governmental organizations to participate, on an exceptional basis, in the thirtieth session of the Commission, in 1997, along the lines specified in Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/208 of 9 February 1996;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to make appropriate arrangements for liaison between non-governmental organizations and the Commission, and to ensure that existing channels of communication with non-governmental organizations are fully utilized in order to facilitate broad-based participation and dissemination of information;

7. Requests improved annual reporting on financial flows, including allocations/expenditures, based on consistent criteria and related to the costed elements of the Programme of Action, including a clear account of levels and trends of funding by source (bilateral, multilateral (both core and non-core) and private funds, domestic allocations and the like);

8. Encourages the widest possible dissemination of reports on progress in implementing the Programme of Action prepared by the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, including, wherever possible, their dissemination through electronic channels of communication, and welcomes the intention of the United Nations Population Fund to report on implementation in its annual publication State of the World Population;

9. Proposes that, in addition to their special coverage in the World Population Monitoring reports, main demographic trends be covered biennially, starting in 1997, in a complementary concise report prepared by the Population Division of the Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis of the United Nations Secretariat, to be discussed under the agenda item concerning the work programme of the Population Division;

10. Emphasizes the importance of information, education and communication as a strategy for furthering follow-up action on the International Conference on Population and Development, particularly in the areas of reproductive rights and reproductive health, and urges the Population Division to highlight the efforts of Governments in this regard in relevant reports prepared for the Commission;

11. Welcomes the encouraging evidence of actions being undertaken by Governments, international organizations and the non- governmental sector in response to the challenges of the Programme of Action related to reproductive rights and reproductive health, and stresses the need for such action to be accelerated and widened, in particular the need to mobilize additional financial resources, as called for in the Programme of Action;

12. Requests the Task Force on Basic Social Services to coordinate the development of appropriate indicators, taking into account relevant research, so that progress in addressing reproductive health needs by individual countries can be assessed on a reliable basis;

13. Requests that evidence of further progress in achieving the goals of the Programme of Action be communicated to the Commission on an annual basis through selected publications and documentation prepared by the United Nations Secretariat, including the Population Division, as well as publications and documentation prepared by other United Nations bodies, including the United Nations Population Fund, the regional commissions and the specialized agencies.

B. Draft decision

4. 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-ninth session and provisional agenda for the thirtieth 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-ninth session;

(b) Approves the provisional agenda for the thirtieth session of the Commission set out below.

Provisional agenda for the thirtieth session of the Commission on Population and Development

1. Election of officers.

2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.

3. General debate on national experience in population matters.

4. Follow-up actions to the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development: international migration, with special emphasis on the linkages between migration and development and on gender issues and the family.

Documentation

Report of the Secretary-General on world population monitoring, focusing on international migration, with special emphasis on the linkages between migration and development and on gender issues and the family

Report of the Secretary-General on the monitoring of population programmes

Report of the Secretary-General on activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations relating to the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development

Report of the Secretary-General on the flow of financial resources for assisting in the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development

Relevant parts of the report of the ACC Task Force on Basic Social Services dealing with the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development

5. Programme questions:

(a) Programme performance and implementation;

(b) Proposed programme of work for the biennium 1998-1999.

Documentation

Report of the Secretary-General on progress of work in the field of population, 1996

Note by the Secretary-General on the programme of work for the biennium 1998-1999

6. Provisional agenda for the thirty-first session of the Commission.

Documentation

Note by the Secretariat containing the draft provisional agenda for the thirty-first session of the Commission

7. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its thirtieth session.

C. Matters brought to the attention of the Council

5. The following resolution adopted by the Commission is brought to the attention of the Council:

Resolution 1996/1. Work programme in the field of population

The Commission on Population and Development,

Bearing in mind the outcome of the International Conference on Population and Development and the adoption of its Programme of Action, 2/ taking into account General Assembly resolutions 49/128 of 19 December 1994 on the report of the International Conference on Population and Development, 50/124 of 20 December 1995 on the implementation of the Programme of Action, and 50/215 A of 23 December 1995 on budget appropriations, for the biennium 1996-1997, as well as Economic and Social Council resolution 1995/55 of 28 July 1995 on the implementation of the Programme of Action,

Recalling decision 1995/2 of the Commission on Population and Development on programme question, 3/

1. Regards the work of the Population Division of the Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis of the United Nations Secretariat, in collaboration with other relevant bodies, as being of considerable importance to the monitoring of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, and as serving the crucial need of the United Nations system and the international community for scientifically sound inputs to analysis, debate, planning and policy in the area of population and development;

2. Regrets that the work programme has had to be adjusted to take into account the general measures taken by the Secretary-General in view of the tight cash-flow situation of the Organization;

3. Urges the General Assembly, in its future deliberations on the work programme for the biennium 1996-1997, to ensure that no essential elements of the envisaged work programme are adversely affected;

4. Reiterates the need to maintain the special role and strengths of the Population Division as a body with competence across the broad range of issues covered by the Conference, as well as the importance of maximizing the effectiveness of the Population Division;

5. Reaffirms the content of the work programme in the field of population for the current biennium, as defined by the Commission in the report on its twenty-eighth session; 4/

6. Stresses that priority is to be attached to the elements of the work programme that are directly related to the monitoring and review of the Programme of Action;

7. Recognizes the need for a reappraisal of the shape, content and structure of the work programme at the thirtieth session of the Commission in view of the beginning of the new planning period, as well as the need to support the implementation of the outcomes of relevant major United Nation conferences;

8. Requests the Director of the Population Division to consult with the members of the Commission with respect to the above- mentioned reappraisal, and fully supports the need to protect the long-term work programme, including both traditional demographic work and the development of innovative approaches to meeting new demands following the outcomes of the International Conference on Population and Development and other recent major United Nations conferences.

Footnotes
1/ Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.
2/ Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.
3/ Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement No. 7 (E/1995/27), chap. I, sect. B.
4/Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement No. 7 (E/1995/27), annex II.

Chapter II. General debate on national experience in population matters

6. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion on item 3 of its agenda at the 1st to 3rd meetings, on 26 and 27 February 1996.

7. At the 1st meeting, on 26 February, statements were made by the representatives of Japan, China, Mexico, the United States of America, Canada, Italy, India, Pakistan, the Russian Federation and France.

8. At the 2nd meeting, on 26 February, statements were made by the representatives of Ukraine, the Netherlands, Egypt, Jamaica, the United Republic of Tanzania, Nicaragua, Bangladesh and Peru and the observer for the Holy See.

9. At the 3rd meeting, on 27 February, statements were made by the representatives of Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Tunisia, Nepal, the Sudan and Kenya and the Observer for Malaysia.

Chapter III. Follow-up action to the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development: Reproductive rights and reproductive health

A. General discussion

10. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion on item 4 of its agenda at its 2nd to 4th meetings, on 26 and 27 February 1996. It had before it the following documents:

(a) Concise report of the Secretary-General on world population monitoring, 1996: reproductive rights and reproductive health (E/CN.9/1996/2);

(b) Report of the Secretary-General on the monitoring of population programmes (E/CN.9/1996/3);

(c) Report of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development on the work of the Task Force (E/CN.9/1996/4);

(d) Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the area of reproductive rights and reproductive health (E/CN.9/1996/5);

(e) Report of the Secretary-General on the flow of financial resources in international assistance for population (E/CN.9/1996/6).

11. At the 2nd meeting, on 26 February, the Director of the Population Division of the Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis of the United Nations Secretariat made an introductory statement.

World population monitoring, 1996

12. At the 2nd meeting, on 26 February, the Assistant Director of the Population Division introduced the concise report of the Secretary-General on world population monitoring, 1996: reproductive rights and reproductive health (E/CN.9/1996/2).

13. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Belgium, Jamaica, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United States of America, Mexico, Canada, France and Malta.

14. At the 3rd meeting, on 27 February, the representative of the World Health Organization made a statement.

15. At the 4th meeting, on 27 February, statements were made by the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Indonesia.

Monitoring of population programmes

16. At the 2nd meeting, on 26 February, the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund introduced the report of the Secretary-General on the monitoring of population programmes (E/CN.9/1996/3).

17. At the 3rd meeting, on 27 February, statements were made by the representatives of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, China, the Netherlands, Canada, Mexico, the United States of America and the Republic of Korea and the observers for Norway and the Holy See.

Work of the Inter-Agency Task Force

18. At the 3rd meeting, on 27 February, the Deputy Chief of the Technical and Evaluation Division of the United Nations Population Fund introduced the report of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development on the work of the Task Force (E/CN.9/1996/4).

19. At the 4th meeting, on 27 February, statements were made by the representatives of the Philippines, France, Japan, Canada, Jamaica and the Sudan.

Activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations

20. At the 4th meeting, on 27 February, the Chief of the Reproductive Health Branch of the Technical and Evaluation Division of the United Nations Population Fund introduced the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations in the area of reproductive rights and reproductive health (E/CN.9/1996/5).

21. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the Sudan, the United States of America, Japan, the Philippines, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Nigeria, France, Canada, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Indonesia and the observers for Norway and the Holy See.

Flow of financial resources

22. At the 4th meeting, on 27 February, the Chief of the Technical and Evaluation Division of the United Nations Population Fund introduced the report of the Secretary-General on the flow of financial resources in international assistance for population (E/CN.9/1996/6).

23. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the Sudan, Japan, the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Jamaica, Germany, the Philippines, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Indonesia and the observer for Norway.

24. Also at the same meeting, general statements on the item were made by the representatives of the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

B. Action taken by the Commission

25. At the 5th meeting, on 28 February, the representative of Italy, on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Community, introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.9/1996/L.4) entitled "Follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development".

26. At the 8th meeting, on 1 March, the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Mr. R. L. Cliquet (Belgium), introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.9/1996/L.7), submitted on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution E/CN.9/1996/L.4.

27. At the same meeting, following statements by the representatives of Nigeria, Japan, Canada, Italy (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Community) and Egypt, the Commission adopted the draft resolution as orally revised during the discussion (see chap. I, sect. A).

28. In the light of the adoption of draft resolution E/CN.9/1996/L.7, draft resolution E/CN.9/1996/L.4 was withdrawn by its sponsors.

Chapter IV. Programme questions

A. General discussion

29. The Commission on Population and Development held a general discussion on item 5 of its agenda at its 5th and 6th meetings, on 28 February 1996. It had before it the following documents:

(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the progress of work in the field of population in 1995: Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis of the United Nations Secretariat (E/CN.9/1996/7);

(b) Note by the Secretary-General on the programme of work in population for the biennium 1996-1997 (E/CN.9/1996/8);

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

30. At the 5th meeting, on 28 February, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis of the United Nations Secretariat made a statement.

31. At the same meeting, 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 Officer-in-Charge of the Population Estimates and Projections Section.

32. Also at the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the United States of America, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Ukraine, Jamaica, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, China, Brazil, Peru, Canada, Japan, the Philippines, the Sudan, France, Nigeria and Malta and the observers for Norway and Malaysia.

33. At the 6th meeting, on 28 February, statements were made by the Chief of the Population Policy Section, the Chief of the Population and Development Section, the Assistant Director and the Interregional Adviser of the Population Division, and the Director of the United Nations Statistics Division.

34. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the Philippines, Cuba, France, the United States of America, Canada and Indonesia. Statements were also made by the representatives of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Economic Commission for Africa and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

B. Action taken by the Commission

35. At the 7th meeting, on 29 February, the representative of Italy, on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Union, introduced a draft resolution (subsequently issued as document E/CN.9/1996/L.6), entitled "Work programme in the field of population".

36. At the 8th meeting, on 1 March, the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Mr. R. L. Cliquet (Belgium), orally revised the draft resolution on the basis of informal consultations held under his chairmanship.

37. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as orally revised (see chap. I, sect. C).

Chapter V. Provisional agenda for the 30th session of the Commission

38. At its 8th meeting, on 1 March, the Commission approved the draft provisional agenda for its thirtieth session (see chap. I, sect. B).

Chapter VI. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its 29th session

39. At the 8th meeting, on 1 March, the Vice-Chairman-cum-Rapporteur introduced and orally revised the draft report of the Commission on its twenty-ninth session (E/CN.9/1996/L.5).

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

Chapter VII. Organization of the session

A. Opening and duration of the session

41. The Commission on Population and Development held its twenty- ninth session at United Nations Headquarters from 26 February to 1 March 1996. The Commission held 8 meetings (1st to 8th).

42. The session was opened by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, who made an introductory statement.

43. Introductory statements were also made by the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund and the Director of the Population Division.

B. Attendance

44. The session was attended by 39 States members of the Commission. Observers for other States Members of the United Nations and for 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 I to the present report.

C. Election of officers

45. At the 1st, 3rd and 5th meetings, on 26, 27 and 28 February 1996, the Commission elected the following officers by acclamation:

Chairman: Andras Klinger (Hungary)

Vice-Chairmen: R. L. Cliquet (Belgium) Elza Salvatori Berquo (Brazil) S. B. A. Bullut (Kenya)

Vice-Chairman-cum-Rapporteur: Cecile Joaquin-Yasay (Philippines)

D. Agenda

46. At the 1st meeting, on 26 February, the Commission adopted the provisional agenda contained in document E/CN.9/1996/1. The agenda was as follows:

1. Election of officers.

2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.

3. General debate on national experience in population matters.

4. Follow-up actions to the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development: reproductive rights and reproductive health.

5. Programme questions:

(a)Programme performance and implementation in 1995;

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

6. Provisional agenda for the thirtieth session of the Commission.

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

E. Documentation

47. The documents before the Commission at its twenty-ninth session are listed in annex II to the present report.

F. Consultation with non-governmental organizations

48. 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 Women's Health Coalition

Roster: Natural Resources Defence Council, Inc. Population Institute

United Nations Document E/1996/25 E/CN.9/1996/9

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