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CSocD 1995The Commission for Social Development 34th Session took place 10-20 April 1995. The following report has been adopted by the Economic and Social Council in 1995. [Download the document TXT file (159 KB) ZIP file (41 KB)] ContentsI. Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council or
brought to its attention II. Review of the world social situation III. Monitoring of international plans and programmes of action IV. Priority subject: World Summit for Social Development V. Programme questions and other matters: VI. Provisional Agenda for the 35th session of the Commission VII. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its 34th session VIII. Organization of the session
Chapter I. Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council or brought to its attention [ Up ]A. Draft resolution for adoption by the Council1. The Commission for Social Development recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft resolution: DRAFT RESOLUTION International Year of Older Persons: towards a society for all ages* The Economic and Social Council Recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution: International Year of Older Persons: towards a society for all ages The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/5 of 16 October 1992, by which the Assembly decided to observe the year 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/22 of 27 July 1993, in which the Council invited Member States to strengthen their national mechanisms on ageing, inter alia, to enable them to serve as national focal points for the preparations for and observance of the Year, Recalling further its resolution 45/106 of 14 December 1990, in which it recognized the complexity and rapidity of the ageing of the world's population and the need to have a common basis and frame of reference for the protection and promotion of the rights of older persons, including the contribution that older persons could and should make to society, Bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 49/162 of 23 December 1994, entitled "Integration of older women in development", 1. Takes note of the conceptual framework of a programme for the preparation and observance of the International Year of Older Persons in 1999, as contained in the report of the Secretary-General; 1/ 2. Invites Member States to adapt the conceptual framework to national conditions and to consider formulating national programmes for the Year; 3. Also invites the United Nations organizations and bodies concerned to examine the conceptual framework and identify areas for expanding upon it in keeping with their mandates; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to monitor activities for the Year and to make appropriate coordinating arrangements, bearing in mind that the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development of the Secretariat has been designated the United Nations focal point on ageing; 5. Encourages the Secretary-General to allocate sufficient resources for promoting and coordinating activities for the Year, bearing in mind its resolution 47/5, in which it was decided that observance of the Year would be supported by the regular programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999; 6. Invites Member States, United Nations organizations and bodies and non-governmental organizations to assist the global coordinating entity for the Year; 7. Invites the regional commissions, within the existing mandates, to bear in mind the goals of the Year in convening regional meetings in 1998 and 1999 at which to mark the Year and formulate action plans on ageing for the twenty-first century; 8. Encourages relevant United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies to support local, national and international programmes and projects for the Year; 9. Encourages the United Nations Development Programme to continue to ensure that the concerns of older persons are integrated into its development programmes; 10. Invites the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and other relevant research institutes to consider preparing studies on the four facets of the conceptual framework, namely, the situation of older persons, the life course, multigenerational relationships and the relationship between population ageing and development, and requests the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women to continue its research on the situation of older women, including those in the informal sector; 11. Encourages the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to launch, within existing resources, an information campaign for the Year; 12. Invites the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to continue its work on ageing and the situation of older persons, as covered in the report of the Committee; 2/ 13. Invites non-governmental organizations to develop programmes and projects for the Year, particularly at the local level, in cooperation, inter alia, with local authorities, community leaders, enterprises, the media and schools; 14. Decides that henceforth the term "older persons" should be substituted for the term "the elderly", in conformity with the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, 3/ with the result that the Year and the Day concerned shall be called the International Year of Older Persons and the International Day of Older Persons, respectively; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session on the preparations being made by Member States, United Nations organizations and bodies and non-governmental organizations for the observance of the Year. * For the discussion, see chap. III, sect. C.
B. Draft decision for adoption by the Council [ Up ]2. The Commission for Social Development recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decision: Report of the Commission for Social Development on its thirty-fourth session and provisional agenda and documentation for its thirty-fifth session* The Economic and Social Council: (a) Takes note of the report of the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-fourth session, 4/ and endorses the resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission; (b) Approves the provisional agenda and documentation for the thirty- fifth session of the Commission set out below: PROVISIONAL AGENDA AND DOCUMENTATION FOR THE THIRTY-FIFTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 1. Election of officers. 2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters. The Commission will establish an in-session open-ended ad hoc working group for the purpose of carrying out the fourth review and appraisal of the International Plan of Action on Ageing and reviewing preparations for the observance of the International Year of Older Persons in 1999. 3. Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development. (a) Implications of decisions and resolutions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1995 and the General Assembly at its fiftieth session that relate to the Commission for Social Development; (b) Priority subjects encompassing the core issues, commitments and related issues of the World Summit; (c) Review of the progress made in the implementation and follow-up of the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, including reports of relevant bodies of the United Nations system, taking into account relevant decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council; (d) Review of the world social situation. Documentation Report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development Report on the World Social Situation, 1997 4. Monitoring of other international plans and programmes of action. The Commission will carry out the fourth quadrennial review of the International Plan of Action on Ageing and the third quinquennial review of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and will consider the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on progress in the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The Commission will also review follow-up arrangements for the International Year of the Family, as well as the world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond and the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. The Commission will review concurrently the relevant activities of the Secretariat and receive reports from the regional commissions on their social development and social welfare activities, as well as reports on relevant expert group meetings. Documentation Report of the Secretary-General on the fourth review and appraisal of the International Plan of Action on Ageing Report of the Secretary-General on the third review and appraisal of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on progress in the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation and follow-up of the world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond Report of the Secretary-General on the major issues and programme activities of the Secretariat and the regional commissions relating to social development and welfare and specific social groups 5. Other matters. Documentation Note by the Secretary-General on the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999 Note by the Secretary-General on the nomination of members of the board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development Report of the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development 6. Provisional agenda for the thirty-sixth session of the Commission. 7. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its thirty-fifth session. * For the discussion, see chap. VI.
C. Resolution calling for action by the Council [ Up ]3. The following resolution adopted by the Commission for Social Development calls for action by the Economic and Social Council: Resolution 34/1. Tenth anniversary of the International Youth Year and world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond* The Commission for Social Development, Recalling General Assembly resolution 45/103 of 14 December 1990, in which the Assembly decided, inter alia, to devote a plenary meeting at its fiftieth session to youth questions, as 1995 marked the tenth anniversary of International Youth Year, Recalling also General Assembly resolution 47/85 of 16 December 1992, in which the Assembly emphasized the need for the preparation of a world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, with a target orientation and within a specific time-frame, Bearing in mind that, in resolution 49/152, the General Assembly: (a) Requested the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-fourth session to consider further the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, as a matter of priority, and to submit it, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session, (b) Decided to devote up to four plenary meetings at its fiftieth session to mark the anniversary of International Youth Year and to consider the world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond with a view to adopting it, (c) Invited Member States to participate in the plenary meetings at a high political level and requested the Secretary-General to schedule those meetings as close as possible to 24 October 1995 to facilitate such participation, (d) Decided to designate, in 1995, an international youth day at the fiftieth session of the General Assembly, Mindful that the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 1993/24, called upon the Commission for Social Development to give priority at its thirty-fourth session to the refinement of the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond and to establish an ad hoc informal open-ended working group on youth for this purpose, with a view to formulating a final draft to be submitted to the Economic and Social Council in 1995 and to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session, Considering that the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1993/24 requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the United Nations statement of intent on youth, which could become an integral part of the world programme of action for youth, Having considered the report of the Chairman of the Open-ended Working Group on Youth,** established by the Commission at its thirty-fourth session to formulate a final draft of the world programme of action for youth, to be submitted to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1995 and to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session, Aware of the need for an extended time-frame in the light of the conditions and considerations set out in the report of the Working Group, Recognizing the urgency of formulating the final draft of the world programme of action for youth to be considered by the General Assembly at high-level meetings at its fiftieth session, with a view to adopting it, in conformity with its resolution 49/152, 1. Recognizes the important work that the Open-ended Working Group on Youth has done in revising the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, in spite of the delay in the availability of the relevant document, which made it impossible for the Working Group to complete its work; 2. Recommends that the Economic and Social Council establish an open- ended working group on youth during its resumed substantive session in September 1995, building upon the progress made by the Open-ended Working Group set up by the Commission during its thirty-fourth session, to complete the formulation of the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond; 3. Recommends to the Economic and Social Council, for that purpose, that the Open-ended Working Group on Youth established by the Commission undertake informal consultations on the formulation of the final draft of the world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond for submission to the Council at its substantive session; 4. Encourages the Open-ended Working Group to incorporate in the final draft of the programme of action the main elements of the internationally agreed issues regarding youth as set out in the final documents of the International Conference on Population and Development, the World Summit for Social Development and the Fourth World Conference on Women; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to schedule the high-level plenary meetings of the Assembly, as decided by the Assembly in its resolution 49/152, to take place following the resumed session of the Economic and Social Council; 6. Invites Member States that have not yet done so, to submit their national reports to mark the tenth anniversary of International Youth Year; 7. Decides to consider the follow-up of the world programme of action for youth at its thirty-fifth session. * For the discussion, see chap. III, sect. B. ** See chap. III, para. 16.
Annex: Draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond [ Up ]ContentsPreamble PREAMBLE (TO BE CONSIDERED, INCL. PARAGRAPHS 1-5) 1. The decade since the observance of International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace has been a period during which the world experienced fundamental political, economic and socio-cultural changes. These changes will inevitably affect at least the first decade of the twenty-first century as well. 2. Young people represent agents, beneficiaries and victims of major societal changes and are generally confronted by a paradox: to seek to be integrated into an existing order or to serve as a force to transform that order. Young people in all parts of the world, living in countries at different stages of development and in different socio-economic settings, aspire to full participation in the life of society. This would include: (a) Attainment of an educational level commensurate with their aspirations; (b) Access to employment opportunities equal to their abilities; (c) Food and nutrition adequate for full participation in the life of society; (d) A physical and social environment that promotes good health and protection from disease and addiction; (e) Fundamental freedoms and basic rights without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion; (f) Participation in decision-making processes, including the right to voluntary membership in representative, democratically elected organizations of young people; (g) Places and facilities for cultural and sports activities. 3. Governments are urged to consider the following measures as a basis for the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond: (a) Promoting new opportunities for young people for full and effective participation in the life of society and in decision-making; (b) Promoting expanded opportunities for young people for productive and gainful employment; (c) Integrating youth-related concerns in national development policies and plans; (d) Protecting young people from harmful drugs and the effects of addiction to tobacco and alcohol; (e) Fostering mutual respect and understanding among young people with different racial and religious backgrounds; (f) Encouraging increased public access to timely and relevant data on the situation and needs of young people; (g) Fostering a greater sense of peace and mutual understanding between nations through expanded opportunities for education, action and technical exchanges among young people; (h) Ensuring an appropriate focus in population activities on young people and the inclusion of young people as agents in promoting population and family life education, information and communication programmes; (i) Encouraging active engagement in environmental education and action among young people; (j) Fostering equal access by girls and young women in education and employment and their full participation in the life of society. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE [ Up ](TO BE CONSIDERED WITH THE PREAMBLE) 4. The World Programme of Action for Youth provides a policy framework and practical guidelines for national action and international support to improve the situation of young people. It contains proposals for action to the year 2000 and beyond aiming at achieving the objectives of the International Youth Year and at fostering conditions and mechanisms to promote improved well-being and livelihood among young people. 5. The Programme of Action focuses in particular on measures to strengthen national capacities in the field of youth and to increase the quality and quantity of opportunities available to young people for full, effective and constructive participation in society. I. UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION OF INTENT ON YOUTH: PROBLEMS AND POTENTIALS [ Up ](PARAGRAPHS 1 and 2 ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 1. States Members of the United Nations have agreed to work towards achievement of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, inter alia the promotion of higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development. Young people in all parts of the world, living in countries at different stages of development and in different socio-economic situations, aspire towards full participation in the life of society, as provided in the Charter of the United Nations, including: (a) Attainment of an educational level commensurate with their aspirations; (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) (b) Access to employment opportunities equal to their abilities; (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) (c) Food and nutrition adequate for full participation in the life of society; (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) (d) A physical and social environment that promotes good health and protection from disease and addiction and that is free from all types of violence; (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) (e) Human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion or any other forms of discrimination; (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) (f) Participation in decision-making processes; (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) (g) Places and facilities for cultural, recreational and sports activities to improve the living standards of young people in both rural and urban areas. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) 2. While the peoples of the United Nations, through their Governments, international organizations and voluntary associations, have done much to ensure that these aspirations may be achieved, including efforts to implement the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth endorsed by the General Assembly in 1985, it is apparent that the changing world social, economic and political situation has created the following conditions that have made this goal more difficult to achieve in many countries: (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) (a) Growing claims on the physical and financial resources of States resulting from rapid increases in the youth population, [the burden of external debt] particularly in developing countries; (ADOPTED EXCEPT BRACKETS) (b) Inequities in social, economic and political conditions, including racism and xenophobia, that lead to increasing hunger, deterioration in living conditions and poverty among youth and to their marginalization as refugees, displaced persons and migrants; (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) (c) Increasing difficulty for young people returning from armed conflict and confrontation to be integrated into the community, and access to education and employment; (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) (d) Continuing discrimination against young women and insufficient access by young women to equal opportunities in employment and education; (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) (d bis) High levels of youth unemployment, including long term unemployment; (NEW AMENDMENT ADOPTED) (e) Continuing deterioration of the global environment resulting from unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, particularly in industrialized countries, which is a matter of grave concern, aggravating poverty and imbalances; (NEW AMENDMENT ADOPTED) (f in E/CN.5/1995/3) Deleted; (g) Increasing incidence of diseases, such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and other threats to health, such as substance abuse and psychotropic substance addiction, smoking and alcoholism; (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) (h) Inadequate opportunities for vocational education and training, especially for persons with disabilities; (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) (i) Changes in the role of the family as a vehicle for shared responsibility and socialization of youth; (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) (j) The lack of opportunity for young people to participate in the life of society and contribute to its development and well-being; (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT) (k) The prevalence of debilitating disease, hunger and malnutrition that engulfs the life of many young people; (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) (l) The increasing difficulty for young people to receive family life education as a basis for forming healthy families that foster sharing of responsibilities. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) (PARAGRAPHS 3 and 4 NOT YET ADOPTED/TO BE CONSIDERED LATER) [3. These phenomena, among others, are contributing to increased marginalization of young people from the larger society, which depends on youth for its continual renewal.] [4. We, the peoples of the United Nations, through our national Governments, our international organizations and our voluntary efforts designed to improve the welfare of the community, believe that the following undertakings are integral to the World Programme of Action for Youth: (a) Every State should provide its young people with opportunities for their full participation in the life of society, including education leading to productive and satisfying employment; (b) Every State should protect young people from harmful drugs and the effects of addiction to drugs, tobacco and alcohol; (c) Every State should foster mutual respect and understanding among young people with different racial and religious backgrounds; (d) Every State should ensure that its declared policies concerning youth are consistent with international instruments governing human rights; (e) Every State should ensure public access to accurate data on the situation and needs of its young people; (f) Every State is encouraged to foster education and action, such as youth exchanges, among youth with a view to fostering a spirit of peace and mutual understanding between nations; (g) Every State needs to better aim population activities to young people and to better include young people as agents in promoting population and family life education, information and communication programmes; (h) Environmental protection and enhancement are among the issues considered by young people to be of prime importance to the future welfare of society. Therefore, States and young people, including youth organizations, should actively engage in environmental education and action; (i) States and young people should foster equal access to education and employment for girls and young women.] II. DEVELOPMENT SETTING [ Up ](TO BE CONSIDERED) 6. In 1995, the world youth population - defined by the United Nations as the age cohort 15-24 - is estimated to be 1.03 billion, or 18 per cent of the total world population. The majority of the world youth population (84 per cent in 1995) lives in developing countries. This figure is projected to increase to 89 per cent in 2025. The difficult circumstances that people experience in many developing countries are often even more difficult for young people because of limited opportunities for education and training, viable employment and health and social services, and because of a growing incidence of substance abuse and juvenile delinquency. Many developing countries are also experiencing unprecedented rates of rural-urban migration by young people. 7. Young people in industrialized countries comprise a relatively smaller proportion of the total population because of generally lower birth rates and higher levels of life expectancy. They are a social group that faces particular problems and uncertainties regarding its future, problems that relate in part to limited opportunities for appropriate employment. 8. Young people in all countries are both a major human resource for development and key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovation. Their imagination, ideals, considerable energies and vision are essential for the continuing development of the societies in which they live. The problems that young people face as well as their vision and aspirations are an essential component of the challenges and prospects of today's societies and future generations as well. Thus, there is special need for new impetus to be given to the design and implementation of youth policies and programmes at all levels. The ways in which the challenges and potentials of young people are addressed by policy will influence current social and economic conditions and the well-being and livelihood of future generations. III. STRATEGIES AND POLICY SPECIFICS [ Up ](ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 9. The General Assembly endorsed the Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding between Peoples in 1965. 5/ From 1965 to 1975, both the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council emphasized three basic themes in the field of youth: participation, development and peace. The need for an international policy on youth was emphasized as well. In 1979, the General Assembly, by resolution 34/151, designated 1985 as International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace. In 1985, by resolution 40/14, the Assembly endorsed the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth (A/40/256, annex). The guidelines are significant for their focus on young people as a broad category comprising various subgroups, rather than a single demographic entity. They provide proposals for specific measures to address the needs of such subgroups as young people with disabilities, rural and urban youth, and young women. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 10. The themes identified by the General Assembly for International Youth Year - namely, participation, development and peace - reflect a predominant concern of the international community with distributive justice, popular participation and quality of life. These were reflected in the guidelines, and they represent overall themes of the World Programme of Action for Youth as well. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 11. The World Programme of Action for Youth also builds upon other, recent international instruments, including the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, 6/ the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, 7/ the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, 8/ the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, 9/ and the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 12. The World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond is drawn from these general and specific international instruments related to youth policies and programmes. The Programme of Action is significant because it provides a cross-sectoral standard relating to both policy-making and programme design and delivery. It will serve as a model for integrated actions, at all levels, to address more effectively problems experienced by young people in various settings and to enhance their participation in society. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 13. The World Programme of Action for Youth is divided into three phases: the first phase focuses on analysis and on drafting the Programme of Action and its adoption by the General Assembly at its fiftieth session, in 1995; the second phase is concerned with world-wide implementation of the Programme of Action to the year 2000; the third phase, covering the period 2001 to 2010, will focus on further implementation and evaluation of progress made and obstacles encountered; it will suggest appropriate adjustments to long-term objectives and specific measures to improve the situation of young people in the societies in which they live. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) IV. PRIORITY AREAS [ Up ] 14. Each of the eight priority areas identified by the international community is presented in terms of principal issues, specific objectives and the actions proposed to be taken by various actors to achieve those objectives. Objectives and actions reflect the three themes of International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace; they are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. 15. The eight priority areas identified by the international community are education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency and leisure-time activities. The Programme of Action will permit the incorporation of new priorities which may be identified in the future during monitoring and evaluation. A. Education [ Up ] 16. Although progress towards universal basic education, including literacy, has been impressive in recent times, the number of illiterate people will continue to grow and many developing countries are likely to fall short of universal primary education by the year 2000. Three main concerns regarding current systems of education may be expressed. The first is the inability of many parents in developing countries to send their children to schools because of local economic and social conditions. The second concerns the paucity of educational opportunities for girls and young women, migrants, refugees, displaced persons, street children, indigenous youth minorities, young people in rural areas and young people with disabilities. The third concerns the quality of education, its relevance to employment and its usefulness for assisting young people in the transition to full adulthood, active citizenship [and productive and gainful] employment. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 17. To encourage the development of educational and training systems more in line with the current and future needs of young people and their societies, it would be helpful to share experience and to investigate alternative arrangements, such as informal arrangements for the provision of basic literacy, job skills training and lifelong education. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) [17 bis. Opportunities for young people to pursue advanced or university education, or engage in research or be trained for self-employment are especially rare in developing countries. Given the economic problems faced by such countries and the inadequacy of international assistance in this area, it is difficult to provide appropriate training for all young people, even though they are a country's chief economic asset.] (TO BE CONSIDERED/BENIN PROPOSAL) Proposals for action [ Up ] 1. Improving the level of basic education, skill training and literacy among youth 18. Priority should be given to achieving the goal of ensuring basic education for all (including literacy), mobilizing for that purpose all channels, agents and forms of education and training, in line with the concept of lifelong education. Special emphasis should also be given to the reform of education content and curricula, especially curricula that reinforce traditional female roles that deny women opportunities for full and equal partnership in society, at all levels, etc. focusing on scientific literacy, human moral values and learning of skills, adapted to the changing environment and to life in multi-ethnic societies and pluri-cultural societies. The importance of the development of information skills, that is skills for researching, accessing and using information, and informatics should be emphasized along with the importance of distance education. Non-governmental youth organizations and education organizations should develop youth-to-youth programmes for basic education, skill training and literacy. Consideration should be given to developing programmes enabling retired and elderly people to teach literacy to young people. Particular attention should be given to specific groups of youth in distressed circumstances, including indigenous, migrant and refugee youth, displaced persons, street children and poor youth in urban and rural areas, as well as to special problems, including literacy problems, for blind youth and youth with other disabilities. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 2. Cultural heritage and contemporary patterns of society 19. Governments should establish or strengthen programmes to educate young people in the cultural heritage of their societies and other societies and the world. Governments should institute, in cooperation with non-governmental youth organizations, travel and exchange programmes and youth camps to help youth understand cultural diversity at both the national and international levels, develop intercultural learning skills and participate in the preservation of the cultural heritage of their societies and other societies and the world around them. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in cooperation with interested Governments and non-governmental organizations, is requested to expand international programmes, such as youth camps, by which young people, particularly from developing countries, with different cultures may help restore major international cultural sites and engage in other cultural activities. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 3. Promoting mutual understanding and the ideals of peace and tolerance among youth 20. [The changing world conditions and the social fabric of many countries has caused an increase in youth violence.] Programmes aimed at learning peacemaking and dispute and conflict resolution should be encouraged and designed by Governments for introduction to schools at all levels. [Such educational programmes should promote and strengthen respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.] From elementary levels, children and youth should be [informed of cultural differences in their own societies and] given opportunities to learn about different cultures and forms of social life other than their own.] (TO BE RECONSIDERED) 4. Vocational and professional training [ Up ] 21. [Governments and educational institutions, in cooperation with regional and international organizations, could establish or enhance vocational and technical training that is relevant to current and prospective employment conditions. [Youth must be given the opportunity to access vocational and professional training and apprenticeship programmes that help them acquire entry-level jobs with growth opportunities and the ability to adjust to changes in labour demand.] (TO BE CONSIDERED) [4 bis. Promoting human rights education] [Governments should ensure that the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2005) is adequately observed in schools and educational institutions, bearing in mind that youth must be made aware of their social, cultural, economic, political and civil rights in order to develop harmonious inter-community relations, mutual tolerance and understanding.] (TO BE CONSIDERED/G-77 PROPOSAL) 5. Training for enterprise programmes 22. Governments, in cooperation with regional and international organizations, should formulate model programmes of training for youth in individual and cooperative enterprises. They are encouraged to establish self-contained enterprise centres where young people may plan and test their enterprise venture concepts. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 6. Infrastructure for training youth workers and youth leaders 23. Governments should assess the adequacy of facilities and programmes to train youth workers and youth leaders, including the adequacy of curricula and staff resources. On the basis of such assessments, Governments should plan and implement relevant training programmes. Non-governmental youth organizations should be encouraged and assisted to formulate and disseminate model training courses for use by member organizations. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 24. [Interested organizations should investigate the establishment of an international youth worker and youth leadership training institute, with priority given to accepting participants from developing countries. In cooperation with concerned organizations that provide training opportunities for youth, including internships and volunteer programmes, the institute should establish an inventory of system-wide guidelines for such programmes.] (TO BE RECONSIDERED) 25. [Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are called upon to assist young people in developing countries to obtain places at suitable training institutions in developed countries or other parts of the developing world.] (TO BE RECONSIDERED) B. Employment [ Up ] 26. Unemployment and underemployment among youth is a problem everywhere. It is, indeed, part of the larger struggle to create employment opportunities for all citizens. The problem has worsened in recent years because of the global recession, which has affected developing countries the most. The disturbing fact is that economic growth is not always accompanied by growth in employment. The difficulty of finding suitable employment is compounded by a host of other problems confronting young people, including illiteracy and insufficient training, and is worsened by periods of world economic slow-down and overall changing economic trends. In some countries, the influx of young people into the employment market has carried acute problems. According to estimates of the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 100 million new jobs would have to be created within the next 20 years in order to provide suitable employment for the growing number of young people in the economically active populations of developing countries. The situation of girls and young women, as well as of young people with disabilities, refugee youth, displaced persons, street children, indigenous youth, migrant youth and minorities warrants urgent attention, bearing in mind the prohibition of forced labour and child labour. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 27. The crisis of youth unemployment is also a crisis of opportunities for young people to acquire independently the minimum means of accommodation and housing necessary for setting up families and participate in the life of society. Advances in technology and communications, coupled with improved productivity, have imposed new challenges as well as new opportunities for employment. Young people are among the most severely affected by these developments. If effective solutions are not found, the costs to society will be much higher in the long run. Unemployment creates a wide range of social ills and young people are particularly susceptible to its damaging effects: the lack of skill development, low self-esteem, marginalization, impoverishment and the wasting of an enormous human resource. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) Proposals for action 1. Opportunities for self-employment [ Up ] 28. Governments and organizations should create or promote grant schemes to provide seed money to encourage and support enterprise and employment programmes for young people. Businesses and enterprises could be encouraged to provide counterpart financial and technical support for such schemes. Cooperative schemes involving young people in production and marketing of goods and services could be considered. Formation of youth development banks could be considered. The Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives is encouraged to develop models for cooperatives run by youth in developed and developing countries. Such models could include guidelines for management training and training in entrepreneurial techniques and marketing. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 2. Employment opportunities for specific groups of the youth population 29. Within funds designated to promote youth employment, Governments should, as appropriate, designate resources for programmes supporting the efforts of young women, young people with disabilities, youth returning from military service, migrant youth, refugee youth, displaced persons, street children and indigenous youth. Youth organizations and youth themselves should be directly involved in the planning and implementation of these programmes. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 3. Voluntary community services involving youth 30. Where they do not yet already exist, Governments should consider the establishment of youth voluntary service programmes. Such programmes could provide alternatives to military service, or might constitute a required element in educational curricula, depending on national policies and priorities. Youth camps, community service projects, environmental protection and intergenerational cooperation programmes should be included among the opportunities offered. Youth organizations should be directly involved in designing, planning, implementing and evaluating such voluntary service programmes. In addition, international cooperation programmes organized between youth organizations in developed and developing countries should be included to promote intercultural understanding and development training. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 4. Needs created by technological changes 31. Governments, in particular those of developed countries, should encourage the creation of employment opportunities for young people in fields that are rapidly evolving as a result of technological innovation. A subset of the employment data compiled by Governments should track the employment of youth into those fields marked by newly emerging technologies. Measures should be taken to provide ongoing training in this area for youth. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 32. Special attention should be paid to developing and disseminating approaches that promote flexibility in training systems and collaboration between training institutions and employers, especially for young people in high-technology industries. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) C. Hunger and poverty [ Up ] 33. Over 1 billion people in the world today live in unacceptable conditions of poverty, mostly in developing countries, particularly in rural areas of low-income countries of Asia and the Pacific, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean and the least developed countries. Poverty has various manifestations, including lack of income and productive resources sufficient to ensure sustainable livelihoods; hunger and malnutrition; ill health; limited or lack of access to education and other basic services; increased morbidity and mortality from illness; homelessness and inadequate housing; unsafe environments; and social discrimination and exclusion; it is also characterized by a lack of participation in decision-making and civil and socio-cultural life. [TO BE RECONSIDERED: It also constitutes the root cause for other social maladies such as corruption and prostitution.] 34. Hunger and malnutrition remain among the most serious and intractable threats to humanity, often preventing youth and children from taking part in society. Hunger is the result of many factors: mismanagement of food production and distribution; poor accessibility; maldistribution of financial resources; unwise exploitation of natural resources; unsustainable patterns of consumption; environmental pollution; natural and human-made disasters; conflicts between traditional and contemporary production systems; irrational population growth; and armed conflicts. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) Proposals for action 1. Making farming more rewarding and life in agricultural areas more attractive 35. Governments should enhance educational and cultural services and other incentives in rural areas to make them more attractive to young people. Experimental farming programmes directed towards young people should be initiated, and extension services expanded to maintain improvements in agricultural production and marketing. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 36. Local and national Governments, in cooperation with youth organizations, should organize cultural events that enhance exchanges between urban and rural youth. Youth organizations should be encouraged and assisted to organize conventions and meetings in rural areas, with special efforts to enlist the cooperation of rural populations, including rural youth. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 2. Skill-training for income-generation by young people 37. Governments, in cooperation with youth organizations, should develop training programmes for youth which improve methods of agricultural production and marketing. Training should be based on rural economic needs and the needs of young people in rural areas for the development of production and the achievement of food security. Attention should be given in such programmes to young women, youth retention in rural areas, youth returning to rural areas from the cities, young people with disabilities, refugee and migrant youth, displaced persons and street children, indigenous youth, youth returning from military service and youth living in areas of resolved conflicts. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) 3. Land grants for young people [ Up ] 38. Governments should provide grants of land to youth and youth organizations, supported by financial and technical assistance and training. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Labour Organization are invited to document and disseminate information about national experience with land-grant and settlement schemes for use by Governments. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) [38. Governments are invited to establish public libraries, cultural centres and other cultural facilities in rural and urban areas with the aid of international organizations, and to provide assistance to young people active in the fields of drama, the fine arts, music and other forms of cultural expression.] (TO BE CONSIDERED/BENIN PROPOSAL) [38 bis. Governments and non-governmental organizations should encourage and support manual, artisanal and any other activities that promote tourism, art and culture.] (TO BE CONSIDERED/BENIN PROPOSAL) [38 ter. Governments, with the assistance of the international community, should build rural and urban road networks and promote the execution of labour-intensive public works projects.] (TO BE CONSIDERED/BENIN PROPOSAL) [38 quater. Youth organizations should undertake, on a volunteer basis, any projects that may be required for the clearance and maintenance of rural and urban roadways.] (TO BE CONSIDERED/BENIN PROPOSAL) 4. Cooperation between urban and rural youth in food production and distribution 39. Non-governmental organizations should organize direct-marketing groups, including production and distribution cooperatives, to improve current marketing systems and to ensure that young farmers have access to them. The aim of such groups should be to reduce food shortages and losses from defective systems of food storage and transport to markets. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT) D. Health [ Up ] (DELAYED FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION) 40. Young people in some parts of the world suffer from poor health as a result of societal conditions, as well as their own actions. Poor health is often caused by lack of information and lack of health services for youth, mostly in developing countries. The resulting problems are, among others, sexually transmitted diseases, including infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); early pregnancies; lack of hygiene and sanitation, leading to infection, infestation and diarrhoea; genetic and congenital diseases; psychological and mental diseases; narcotic and psychotropic drug abuse; misuse of alcohol and tobacco; unwarranted risk-taking and destructive activity, resulting in unintentional injuries; malnutrition; and poor spacing of births. Proposals for action 1. Development of health education 41. Governments should include, in the curricula of educational institutions at the primary and secondary levels, programmes focusing on primary health knowledge and practices. Particular emphasis should be placed on the understanding of basic hygiene requirements and the need to develop and sustain a healthy environment. These programmes need to be developed in full awareness of the needs and priorities of young people and with their involvement. 42. Cooperation among Governments and educational and health institutions should be encouraged in order to promote personal responsibility for a healthy lifestyle and provide the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including teaching the legal, social and health consequences of behaviour that poses health risks. 2. Promotion of reproductive health for young people and development of appropriate reproductive health education programmes 43. Governments should develop, with educational institutions, curricula to provide appropriate reproductive health education at all levels of the educational system, particularly with a view to preventing HIV infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). National and local governments, in cooperation with non-governmental youth organizations, should develop opportunities for peer counselling and similar youth-to-youth programmes, as well as governmental programmes to instil a positive attitude among young people regarding gender equity and sexual health and to combat sexual stereotypes. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other interested United Nations organizations are encouraged to continue their efforts to ensure that boys and young men are taught to respect the other sex, and girls and young women should be given every opportunity to develop self-esteem. 44. Governments should develop complete reproductive health service programmes for young people, designed to inform them of the requirements for healthy family formation and to provide counselling services for youth in distressed circumstances. UNFPA and other interested United Nations organizations are to be encouraged to continue assigning high priority to promoting adolescent reproductive health. 3. HIV infection and AIDS among young people [ Up ] 45. Governments and youth organizations should develop specific programmes of information and education for young people so that they can take proper precautions against HIV infection and the development of AIDS. 4. Promotion of good sanitation and hygiene practices 46. Governments, in cooperation with youth organizations, should promote the establishment of national youth health associations to promote good sanitation and hygiene. 5. Prevention of disease and illness among youth resulting from poor health practices 47. Governments, in cooperation with youth organizations, should investigate the possibility of adopting policies for discouraging tobacco and alcohol use among young people, including the banning of advertisements of tobacco and alcohol products. 48. Programmes should be instituted, with the assistance of the United Nations bodies and organizations concerned, to train medical and paramedical personnel in health issues of particular concern to young people, including healthy lifestyles. Research into such issues should be promoted, particularly research into the effects and treatment of drug abuse and addiction. Youth organizations should be enlisted in these efforts. 6. Eliminating sexual abuse among young people 49. As recommended by the International Conference on Population and Development, countries should take effective steps to address the neglect, as well as all types of exploitation and abuse, of children, adolescents and youth, such as abduction, rape and incest, pornography, trafficking, abandonment and prostitution. 10/ Governments are urged to prohibit female genital mutilation wherever it exists and to give vigorous support to efforts among non-governmental and community organizations, and religious institutions to eliminate such practices. 11/ 7. Reduction of youth involvement in violence as victims and perpetrators 50. Governments should develop appropriate violence prevention and early intervention programmes. It is more important to prevent crime than to react to crime. Measures to support equality and justice, while reducing poverty and hopelessness, are preferable to measures that rely on the criminal justice system. [50 bis. Governments should also develop programmes to promote tolerance and better understanding among youth, with a view to eradicating contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.] (TO BE CONSIDERED/G-77 PROPOSAL) 51. It is imperative to foster the development of social organization, particularly youth organizations, within a supportive social policy and legislative framework, through community involvement. Government assistance should focus on facilitating the abilities of community and youth organizations to express and evaluate their needs concerning the prevention of violence and crime, and to formulate and implement actions for themselves. This can best be achieved through partnerships, with community organizations encouraged to provide necessary crime and violence avoidance services within a framework that includes adequate standards, training, evaluation and accountability. 8. Combating malnutrition among young people 52. Governments should promote out-of-school and post-primary-school health projects by individuals and youth organizations, emphasizing information on healthy eating practices. School lunch programmes, programmes which offer food for work, provision of food supplements and similar services should be available whenever possible to help ensure proper diets for young people. E. Environment [ Up ] 53. [The deterioration of the natural environment is one of the principal concerns of young people worldwide as it has direct implications for their well-being at present and in the future. The natural environment must be maintained and preserved for both present and future generations. The causes of environmental degradation must be addressed. [The environmentally friendly use of natural resources and environmentally sustainable economic growth will improve human life. Sustainable development] has become a key element in the programmes of youth organizations throughout the world. While every segment of society is responsible for maintaining the environmental integrity of the community, youth have a special interest in maintaining a healthy environment because they will be the ones to inherit it. They should be involved in designing and implementing appropriate environmental policies.] (OUTSTANDING/TO BE RECONSIDERED) Proposals for action 1. Integration of environmental education and training into education and training programmes 54. Emphasis should be given in school curricula to environmental education. Training programmes should be provided to inform teachers of the environmental aspects of their subject-matter and to enable them to educate youth on environmentally friendly habits. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 55. The participation of youth groups in gathering environmental data and in understanding ecological systems and actual environmental action should be encouraged as a means of improving both their knowledge of the environment and their personal engagement in caring for the environment. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) [2. Facilitating the exchange of information [and technology] on environmental issues between developed and developing countries] (OUTSTANDING/TO BE CONSIDERED) 56. [The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in cooperation with Governments and non-governmental youth organizations, is invited to intensify production of information materials illustrating the connection between environmental degradation in developing and developed countries and describing the outcome of initiatives undertaken in those countries. UNEP is requested to continue its efforts to disseminate and exchange information with and among youth organizations. Governments should encourage and assist youth organizations to initiate and develop youth-to-youth contacts through town-twinning and similar programmes in order to share the experience gained in different countries.] (OUTSTANDING/TO BE CONSIDERED) [56 bis. The United Nations system, United Nations organizations and developed countries are requested to provide adequate financial resources and environmentally sound technologies to developing countries in order to promote the participation of non-governmental youth organizations in protecting and conserving the environment.] (TO BE CONSIDERED/G-77 PROPOSAL) 3. Strengthening participation of youth in the protection, preservation and improvement of the environment 57. Governments and youth organizations should initiate programmes to promote participation in tree planting, forestry, combating of desert creep, waste reduction, recycling and other sound environmental practices. The participation of young people and their organizations in such programmes can provide good training and encourage awareness and action. Waste management programmes may represent potential income-generating activities that provide opportunities for employment. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) F. Drug abuse [ Up ] (DELAYED FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION) 58. The vulnerability of young people to drug abuse has in recent years become a major concern. The consequences of widespread drug abuse and trafficking, particularly for young men and women, are all too apparent. 59. As the number of psychotropic drugs increases steadily and their effects and appropriate prescriptive practices are often not fully known, some patients may not be adequately treated and others may become over-medicated. Self-medication with tranquilizers, sleeping-pills and stimulants can also create serious problems, particularly in countries and regions where distribution controls are weak and habit-forming drugs are purchased abroad or diverted from licit channels of distribution. 60. The international community places particular emphasis on demand reduction and prevention of the first use of drugs in realistic awareness of the difficulty of achieving effective treatment for abusers and drug-dependent persons and of the discouragingly high levels of post-treatment relapse into drug abuse. Identification of comprehensive programmes adapted to the social and cultural context is a difficult task, which is further complicated by controversies over the effectiveness of various approaches to treatment. Proposals for action [ Up ] 1. Participation of youth organizations and youth in demand reduction programmes for young people 61. Drug control strategies at the national and international levels consistently emphasize initiatives aimed at reducing drug abuse among young people. This is reflected in the resolutions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and in the demand reduction programmes of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP). To be effective, demand reduction programmes should be targeted at specific groups of young people considered at risk and the content of the programmes should respond directly to the interests and concerns of those people. Increasing opportunities for gainful employment and activities for social participation are important measures to prevent drug addiction among youth. Youth organizations can play a key role in designing and implementing programmes to encourage the integration of youth into the community and to develop healthy lifestyles, which are the best protection against drug abuse. Programmes could include participation in group activities, such as team sports, hiking and camping, as well as community service and mentoring. Civic organizations could make a contribution by providing equipment and helping to construct playing fields and sports arenas, as well as by helping to transmit organizational skills to young people. The programme should include training of youth leaders in communication and counselling skills and person-to-person communication. 62. Governments should enhance the scope of drug control agencies established under the provisions of existing United Nations conventions to monitor the distribution of addictive drugs. In accordance with international treaties, government entities and non-governmental organizations should cooperate in carrying out demand reduction programmes for illicit drugs, tobacco and alcohol. 2. Training medical and paramedical students in the rational use of pharmaceuticals containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances 63. As training in this range of professions and skills is normally transmitted to men and women in their early twenties or younger, medical curricula could usefully be enlarged to include elements on the effects of habit-forming drugs and appropriate prescriptive techniques. Similarly, job-training programmes for hospital staff and pharmaceutical supply houses should include control techniques designed to avoid leakage or deliberate diversion of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances into illicit channels. 64. UNDCP and the World Health Organization (WHO) have begun to develop initiatives along those lines, and courses are now also being given at several universities in different countries. WHO, associations of the medical and paramedical professions, pharmaceutical corporations and medical faculties could be asked to formulate model training courses for inclusion in training curricula, and these model courses could be translated and widely disseminated to assist universities and training institutions in ensuring that young students are adequately prepared for their responsibilities. 3. Treatment and rehabilitation of young people who are drug abusers or drug-dependent and young alcoholics and tobacco users 65. Research has been undertaken into the possibility of identifying medication to block cravings for specific drugs without creating secondary dependency, but much remains to be done in this area. The need for such medical advances has become more urgent with the world-wide increase in abuse and addiction, as the growing prevalence of AIDS places added burdens on treatment facilities and compounds the problems of addiction by infection transmitted through contaminated needles. 66. Graduate students in faculties of medicine and chemistry, or in the social services and public administration, could be encouraged to focus their research on such complex issues as medical treatment of drug-dependent persons and abusers, administration of the public health components of drug treatment and rehabilitation, surveys of the effectiveness of different types and combinations of treatment and comparable rates of recidivism. 67. Of particular interest is the development of treatment techniques involving the family setting and peer groups. Young people can make significant contributions by participating in peer group therapy to facilitate the acceptance of young drug-dependent persons and abusers upon their re-entry into the community. Direct participation in rehabilitation therapy entails close cooperation between youth groups and other community and health services. WHO and other world-wide medical and mental health organizations could set guidelines for continuing research and for carrying out comparable programmes in different settings, whose effectiveness could be evaluated over a given period of time. 4. Care for young drug abusers and drug-dependent suspects and offenders in the criminal justice and prison system 68. Authorities may consider possible strategies to limit exposure to drug abuse and dependence among young people suspected or convicted of criminal offences. Such strategies could include alternative measures, such as daily reporting to police stations or requirements for regular visits to parole officers, and fulfilment of a specified number of hours of community service. 69. Prison authorities should cooperate closely with law enforcement agencies to keep drugs out of the prison system. Prison personnel should be discouraged from tolerating the presence of drugs in penal institutions. 70. Young prisoners who are already drug-dependent should be segregated as far as practicable and targeted as priority candidates for treatment and rehabilitation services. Guidelines and standard minimum rules should be prepared to assist national authorities in law enforcement and prison systems in maintaining the necessary controls and initiating treatment and rehabilitation services. Action along these lines constitutes a long-term advantage to society, as the cycle of dependence, release, repeated offences and repeated incarcerations constitutes a heavy burden on the criminal justice system, quite apart from the wasted lives and personal tragedies which result from drug dependence and criminal behaviour. G. Juvenile delinquency [ Up ] (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 71. Juvenile crime and delinquency are serious problems all over the world. Their intensity and gravity depend mostly on the social, economic and cultural settings of each country. There is evidence, however, of an apparent world-wide increase in juvenile criminality combined with economic recession, especially in marginal sectors of urban centres. In many cases, youth offenders are "street children" who have been exposed to violence in their immediate social environment, either as observers or as victims. Their basic education, when they have it, is poor; their primary socialization from the family is too often inadequate; and their socio-economic environment is shaped by poverty and destitution. Proposals for action 1. Priority to preventive measures 72. Governments should give priority to issues and problems of juvenile delinquency and youth criminality, with particular attention to preventive policies and programmes. Rural areas should be provided with adequate socio-economic and administrative opportunities and services that could discourage young people from migrating to urban areas. Youth from poor urban settings should have available specific educational, employment and leisure programmes, particularly during long school holidays. Young people who drop out of school or come from broken families should benefit from specific social programmes that help them build self-esteem and confidence conducive to responsible adulthood. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 2. Rehabilitation services and programmes 73. Destitution, poor living conditions, inadequate education, malnutrition, illiteracy, unemployment and lack of leisure-time activities are factors that marginalize young people, which makes some of them vulnerable to exploitation as well as to involvement in criminal and other deviant behaviour. If preventive measures address the very causes of criminality, rehabilitation programmes and services should be made available to those who already have a criminal history. Mostly, youth delinquency begins with petty offences such as robbery or violent behaviour, that can be easily traced and corrected through institutions and community and family environments. Indeed law enforcement should be a part of rehabilitation measures. Finally, the human rights of young people who are imprisoned should be protected and principles of penal majority according to penal laws should be given great attention. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) H. Leisure-time activities [ Up ] 74. The importance of leisure-time activities in the psychological, cognitive and physical development of young people is recognized in any society. Leisure-time activities include games, sports, cultural events, entertainment and community service. Appropriate leisure programmes for youth are elements of any measure aimed at fighting social ills, such as drug abuse, juvenile delinquency and other deviant behaviour. While leisure programmes can contribute greatly to the development of the physical, intellectual and emotional potential of young people, they should be designed with due care and concern so that they are not used as a means for excluding youth from participating in other aspects of social life or for indoctrinating them. Leisure-time activity programmes should be made freely available to young people. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) Proposals for action 1. Leisure-time activities as an integral part of youth policies and programmes 75. [In planning, designing and implementing youth policies and programmes, Governments should give priority to leisure-time activities, with the active involvement of youth movements and organizations. The importance given to such activities should be reflected in budgetary provisions.] (OUTSTANDING/TO BE RECONSIDERED) 2. Leisure-time activities as elements of educational programmes 76. A means by which Governments may accord priority to leisure-time activities is to provide educational institutions with resources to develop the infrastructure required for their establishment. In addition, leisure-time activities could be part of the regular school curriculum. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 3. Leisure-time activities in urban planning and rural development 77. National Governments as well as local authorities and community development agencies should incorporate leisure-time activity programmes and facilities in urban planning, giving particular attention to areas with a high human concentration. Equally, rural development programmes should pay due attention to the leisure needs of rural youth. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 4. Leisure-time activities and the media 77 bis. Communications media should be encouraged to promote youth understanding and awareness of all aspects of social integration, including tolerance and non-violent behaviour. (NEW AMENDMENTS ADOPTED) I. [Girls and young women] [ Up ] (TO BE CONSIDERED) 77 ter. [One of the most important tasks of youth policy is to improve the situation of girls and young women. Girls are often treated as inferior and discriminated against in the society. Discrimination and neglect in childhood can initiate a lifelong exclusion from the society. Negative cultural attitudes and practices as well as gender-biased educational processes, including curricula, educational materials and practices, teachers' attitudes and classroom interaction, reinforce existing gender inequalities.] Proposals for action 1. Education 77 quater. [Ensure universal and equal access to and completion of primary education for girls and young women and ensure them equal access to secondary and higher education. Provide a framework for the development of educational materials and practices that are gender balanced and promote an educational setting that eliminates all barriers that impede the schooling of girls and young women, including married and/or pregnant girls and young women.] 2. Health 77 quinquiens. [Eliminate discrimination against girls and young women in health and nutrition. Promote the removal of discriminatory laws and practices against girls and young women in food allocation and nutrition and ensure access to health services in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.] 3. Employment 77 sexiens. [Protect girls and young women from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous, to interfere with their education or to be harmful to their health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development, in conformity with the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Promote equal access for young women in all employment opportunities and encourage their participation in the traditionally male-dominated sectors.] [J. Full and effective participation of youth in the life of society and in decision-making] [ Up ] (OUTSTANDING/TO BE CONSIDERED) 77 septiens. [The capacity of progress of our societies is based, among other elements, in their capacity to incorporate the contribution of youth in the building and designing of its future.] 77 octiens. [Any efforts and proposed actions on the other priority areas, considered in this programme are, in certain way, conditioned by enabling social and political participation of youth, as a matter of critical importance.] V. MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION [ Up ](ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 78. Effective implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth will require significant expressions of commitment by organizations and institutions responsible for its adoption and implementation and the involvement of such organizations and especially of youth from all sectors of society. Without such commitment by governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental entities at the national, regional and international levels, the Programme of Action will remain little more than a global statement of intent and general standard for action. 79. Therefore the development of an overall system of enabling mechanisms is necessary for the Programme of Action to be implemented. Such mechanisms should engage, on a continuing basis, the human, political, economic, financial and sociocultural resources necessary to ensure that the Programme of Action is implemented efficiently and effectively. 80. Implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth is ultimately the responsibility of Governments with the support of the international community and in cooperation, as appropriate, with the non-governmental and private sectors. Translation of the Programme's proposals for action into specific plans, targets and law will be influenced by national priorities, resources and historical experience. In this process, Governments can be assisted, at their request, by regional and international organizations. A. National level [ Up ] (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 81. Governments that have not already done so are urged to formulate and adopt an integrated national youth policy as a means of addressing youth-related concerns. This should be done as part of a continuing process of review and assessment of the situation of youth, formulation of a cross-sectoral national youth programme of action in terms of specific, time-bound objectives, and systematic evaluation of progress achieved and obstacles encountered. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 82. Reinforcing youth-related concerns in development activities can be facilitated through the existence of multilevel mechanisms for consultation, dissemination of information, coordination, monitoring and evaluation. These should be cross-sectoral in nature and multidisciplinary in approach and should include the participation of youth-related departments and ministries, national non-governmental youth organizations and the private sector. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 83. Special and additional efforts may be required to develop and disseminate model frameworks for integrated policies and to identify and organize an appropriate division of responsibilities among both governmental and non-governmental entities concerned with youth-related issues. Special and additional efforts could also be directed towards strengthening national capacities for data collection and dissemination of information, research and policy studies, planning, implementation and coordination, and training and advisory services. (ADOPTED AS AMENDED) 84. National coordinating mechanisms should be appropriately strengthened for integrated youth policies and programmes. Where such mechanisms do not exist, Governments are urged to promote their establishment on a multilevel and cross-sectoral basis. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) B. Regional cooperation [ Up ] (ADOPTED) 85. The activities of the United Nations regional commissions, in cooperation with concerned regional intergovernmental and non-governmental youth and youth-related organizations, are essential complements to national and global action aimed at building national capacities. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 86. Regional commissions, within their existing mandates, are urged to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action through incorporation of its goals in their plans and to undertake comprehensive reviews of the progress achieved and obstacles encountered and identify options to further regional-level action. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) 87. Regional intergovernmental meetings of ministers responsible for youth, in cooperation with the concerned United Nations regional commissions, regional intergovernmental organizations and regional youth non-governmental organizations, can make particular contributions to the formulation, implementation, coordination and evaluation of action at the regional level, including periodic monitoring of regional youth programmes. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) 88. Data collection, dissemination of information, research and policy studies, interorganizational coordination and technical cooperation, training seminars and advisory services are among the measures which can be provided on request at the regional level to promote, implement and evaluate youth programmes. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) 89. Regional youth non-governmental organizations, regional offices of bodies and organizations of the United Nations system and regional intergovernmental organizations concerned with youth are invited to consider meeting on a biennial basis to review and discuss issues and trends and identify proposals for regional and subregional cooperation. United Nations regional commissions are also invited to play an essential role through the provision of a suitable venue and appropriate input regarding regional action. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) C. International cooperation [ Up ] 90. An essential role for international cooperation is to promote conditions conducive to the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth at all levels. Means available include policy-level debates at the policy level and decisions at the intergovernmental level, global monitoring of issues and trends, data collection and dissemination of information, research and studies, planning and coordination, technical cooperation, and outreach and partnership among interested constituencies from both the non-governmental and private sectors. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 91. In its capacity as the subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council responsible for global social development issues, the Commission for Social Development has an important role to play as the focal point for the implementation of the Programme of Action. [The Commission is called upon to continue the policy-level dialogue on youth for policy coordination and for periodic monitoring of issues and trends.] (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) [92. Current regional and interregional conferences of ministers responsible for youth affairs in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and Western Asia are urged to consider convening a standing conference of ministers responsible for youth affairs meeting at four-year intervals under the aegis of the United Nations and in conjunction with meetings of the Commission for Social Development. The standing conference could provide an effective forum for focused dialogue on youth-related issues to ensure effective promotion and monitoring of the Programme of Action at the national, regional and international levels.] (OUTSTANDING/FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION) 93. Youth-related bodies and organizations of the United Nations system are invited to support the work of [the above-mentioned standing conference of ministers responsible for youth.] In this connection, the existing ad hoc inter-agency group on youth should meet annually and invite all the bodies and agencies of the United Nations system concerned and related intergovernmental organizations to discuss ways and means by which they can promote and further implement the Programme of Action on a coordinated basis [and contribute to effective planning and follow-up of the standing conference of ministers.] (OUTSTANDING/FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION) 94. Effective channels of communication between non-governmental youth organizations and the United Nations system are essential for dialogue and consultations on the situation of youth and implications for the implementation of the Programme of Action. The General Assembly has repeatedly stressed the importance of channels of communication in the field of youth. The Youth Forum of the United Nations system could contribute to Programme implementation through the identification and promotion of joint initiatives to further Programme objectives so that they better reflect the interests of youth. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 1. Data collection and dissemination of information 95. Capacities to collect, analyse and present data in a timely and accurate fashion are essential for effective planning and target-setting, for monitoring issues and trends and for evaluating progress achieved in implementing the World Programme of Action for Youth. Special attention should be directed towards building national capacities and institutions to collect and compile regularly socio-economic data series that are both cross-sectional and disaggregated by cohort. To this end, interested centres and institutions may wish to consider the possibility of jointly strengthening or establishing, in cooperation with the United Nations, networks concerned with collection of data and publication of statistics and to realize thereby greater economies of scale in the development and dissemination of statistics in the field of youth. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 96. Major contributions are currently being made by the United Nations related to data and statistics in the field of youth. Such contributions include the socio-economic data collection and statistical development activities of the Statistical Office of the United Nations Secretariat; the youth policies and programmes information activities of the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development; the educational and literacy data collection activities of UNESCO; and the youth advisory networks of the United Nations Environment Programme. Concerned bodies and agencies of the United Nations system are urged to explore ways and means of achieving greater coherence in data collection and the publication of statistics. This could include programme planning and coordination on an inter-agency basis. For example, the data bank programme on adolescent health of the World Health Organization is coordinated with the work of the Statistical Office of the United Nations Secretariat. Other bodies and agencies of the United Nations system are invited to contribute data in their respective areas of expertise to an integrated socio-economic data bank on youth. For instance, the international drug abuse assessment system of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme is urged to consider including a component on youth and drugs. An inventory of innovative youth policies, programmes and projects could be coordinated and made available to interested users by the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development. Other topics that could be considered for joint action include juvenile delinquency, runaways and homeless youth. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 97. Public information and communications are equally important in building awareness of youth issues, as well as a consensus on appropriate planning and action. The bodies and organizations of the United Nations system concerned are urged, as a matter of priority, to review publications currently produced and identify ways in which these publications can better promote the Programme of Action and areas in which they may need to be complemented through the production of leaflets and posters in connection with special events. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT) 98. To encourage widespread awareness of and support for the Programme of Action, Governments, non-governmental organizations and, as appropriate, the private sector, are urged to consider the possibility of preparing both printed and audiovisual materials related to areas of concern in the Programme of Action. This could be carried out with the assistance of and in cooperation with the United Nations and materials could be disseminated through United Nations public information channels. In addition young people and youth organizations are urged to identify and plan information activities that focus on priority issues, which they would undertake within the context of the Programme of Action. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT) 2. Research and policy studies 99. Comparative studies on issues and trends concerning youth are essential to the continuous expansion and development of the global body of knowledge on relevant theory, concepts and methods. International, regional and national research centres and institutions concerned with youth-related issues are urged to consider the possibility of establishing cooperative relationships with the United Nations to ensure effective links between the implementation of the Programme of Action and relevant research and studies. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 100. A closely related concern is cooperation in strengthening and improving national capacities for the research design, conduct and dissemination of relevant studies on the situation of young people. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 101. A third concern is improved planning and coordination of the scarce human and financial resources available so that appropriate attention is accorded to initiatives at all levels, undertaken by young people, related to priority areas identified in the Programme of Action, to the identification and assessment of issues and trends, and to the review and evaluation of policy initiatives. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 3. Planning and coordination [ Up ] 102. Using the mechanisms currently available within the United Nations system for planning, programming and coordinating activities concerning youth, interested bodies and organizations of the United Nations system are urged to review their medium-term planning process to give appropriate consideration to reinforcing a youth perspective in their activities. They are also urged to identify current and projected programme activities that correspond to the priorities of the Programme of Action so that these activities can be reinforced throughout the system. Appropriate attention should be directed towards identifying opportunities for joint planning among interested members of the system so that joint action may be undertaken that reflects their respective areas of competence and that is of direct interest to young people or that responds to priority needs of young people in special circumstances. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) 103. A complementary mechanism for coordination is provided by the channels that have been developed between the United Nations and intergovernmental and non-governmental youth organizations. Such mechanisms require appropriate strengthening to enable them to respond better to priorities for action, as identified in the Programme of Action. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 4. Technical cooperation, training and advisory services 104. Technical cooperation is an essential means for building national capacities and institutional capabilities. Bodies and organizations of the United Nations system that have not already done so are urged to review and assess their range of programmatic and operational activities in the light of priorities for action identified in the Programme of Action and to reinforce a youth dimension in technical cooperation activities. In this regard, special attention should be directed towards measures that will serve to promote expanded opportunities for international technical assistance and advisory services in the field of youth as a means of building expanded and strengthened networks of institutions and organizations. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) 105. There is a need for greater streamlining in technical cooperation policies and procedures, particularly for training and advisory services, so that they do not place undue administrative burdens on national officials. With national execution as the principal mode for technical cooperation, offices responsible for national youth policies and programmes should be in a position to plan and execute technical cooperation activities available from all sources [in accordance with a basic format, with annexes as required by the donor organization concerned]. The aim should be to reduce administrative overheads, as these proportionately reduce the resources available for technical cooperation. (OUTSTANDING/TO BE RECONSIDERED) 106. The organization, on an inter-agency basis, of missions to review, assess and plan technical cooperation concerning youth, available on request to Governments, represents a specific contribution by the United Nations system to the implementation of the Programme of Action. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 107. The United Nations Youth Fund represents a unique resource to support catalytic and innovative action concerning youth. Programme implementation can be furthered through the Fund's support, in both a technical and a financial sense, of pilot action, studies and technical exchanges on issues concerning youth that encourage the participation of youth in devising and carrying out projects and whose short time-frames often make it difficult to obtain needed support from conventional budgeting processes. The capacities of the Fund for innovative action are, however, limited in the light of Programme priorities, and interested Governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector are invited to consider the possibility of supporting the activities of the Fund on a predictable and sustained basis. To this end, the parties concerned may wish to consider the possibility of constituting an advisory body at an appropriate level to review the application of the terms of reference of the Fund, priorities and means of strengthening its capacities. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) 5. Outreach and partnership among specialized constituencies 108. A crucial element in implementing the Programme of Action is recognition that governmental action alone is not sufficient to ensure its success, rather it should further be complemented by the support of the international community. This process will also require both systematic outreach and partnership among the Programme's many constituencies in both the non-governmental and private sectors. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) 109. A critical first step is phased expansion and regularization of channels of communication between the United Nations and non-governmental youth organizations to include representatives of interested private sector organizations. This would build upon the provisions of the General Assembly in resolution 45/103 concerning the involvement of youth and non-governmental youth organizations in formulation of the Programme of Action. Youth, youth-related organizations and interested private sector organizations are urged to identify, in partnership with Governments, ways in which they could contribute to action at the local level to implement the Programme, and to the periodic review, appraisal and formulation of options to achieve its goals and objectives. (ADOPTED WITHOUT AMENDMENTS) 110. Implementation of the Programme of Action offers important opportunities to expand technical and cultural exchanges among young people through new partnerships in both the public and private sectors; to identify and test improved ways to leverage public resources, in partnership with the non-governmental and private sectors, to further Programme priorities; and to encourage and plan jointly innovative approaches to critical issues concerning youth. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS) 111. Relevant voluntary organizations, particularly those concerned with education, employment, juvenile justice, youth development, health, hunger, ecology and the environment, and drug abuse, can further Programme implementation by encouraging involvement of young people in their programme planning and field activities. The Programme of Action can contribute to the work of such organizations because it provides a global policy framework for consultation and coordination. (ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENTS)
D. Decision calling for action by the Council [ Up ]4. The following decision adopted by the Commission for Social Development calls for action by the Economic and Social Council: Decision 34/101. Nomination of members of the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development* 1. At its 9th meeting, on 18 April 1995, the Commission for Social Development decided to nominate, for confirmation by the Economic and Social Council, the following candidates for membership in the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development for a four-year term beginning on 1 July 1995 and expiring on 30 June 1999: Jonathan MOORE (United States of America) Harris Mutio MULE (Kenya) Frances STEWART (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) Valery TISHKOV (Russian Federation) Bjorn HETTNE (Sweden). 2. The Commission also decided to renominate, for confirmation by the Economic and Social Council, the following candidates for membership in the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development for a two-year term beginning on 1 July 1995 and expiring on 30 June 1997: Fahima CHARAF-EDDINE (Lebanon) Georgina DUFOIX (France) Kinhide MUSHAKOJI (Japan) Guillermo O'DONNELL (Argentina) Rehman SOBHAN (Bangladesh). * For the discussion, see chap. V.
E. Resolutions and decision brought to the attention of the Council [ Up ]5. The following resolutions adopted by the Commission for Social Development are brought to the attention of the Economic and Social Council: Resolution 34/2. Monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities*The Commission for Social Development, Recalling General Assembly resolution 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which the General Assembly adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, Further recalling that the Rules are to be monitored within the framework of the sessions of the Commission for Social Development, Bearing in mind that the purpose of the monitoring mechanism is to further the effective implementation of the Rules, Noting with appreciation the appointment of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission for Social Development on Disability, Also noting the establishment of the panel of experts to be consulted by the Special Rapporteur, Noting with appreciation the generous voluntary contributions made by Member States to support the work of the Special Rapporteur, Recalling that the Commission was requested to establish, at its thirty-fourth session, an open-ended working group to examine the Special Rapporteur's report and to make recommendations on how to improve the application of the Rules, Having considered the oral report of the Special Rapporteur, made before the Commission at its thirty-fourth session, Noting with satisfaction that the Rules are being introduced in a number of countries and that they play an important role in influencing policies and thinking at both the national and international levels, Noting with concern, however, that only a small number of States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations have responded to the first set of questions of the Special Rapporteur concerning the implementation of the Rules, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the oral report of the Special Rapporteur and the recommendations that he made; 2. Welcomes the general approach to monitoring by the Special Rapporteur, which is to place emphasis on advice and support to States concerning implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities; 3. Encourages the Special Rapporteur to focus his monitoring efforts in the forthcoming two years on an appropriate number of priority areas, bearing in mind that the overall goal of the monitoring activity is to implement the Rules in their entirety; 4. Urges States to continue their efforts to implement the Rules; 5. Calls upon States to establish or strengthen national coordinating committees or similar bodies to serve as national focal points on disability matters; 6. Invites States to communicate to the Secretariat and to the Special Rapporteur the name, address and other relevant information on their national focal point to facilitate exchanges of information on the implementation of the Rules; 7. Strongly urges States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to cooperate closely with the Special Rapporteur and respond to his second questionnaire on implementation of the Rules; 8. Calls upon the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development of the Secretariat, as the United Nations focal point on disability issues, the United Nations Development Programme and other entities of the United Nations system, such as the regional commissions, the specialized agencies and inter-agency mechanisms, to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur in the implementation and monitoring of the Rules; 9. Calls upon States to participate actively in international cooperation concerning policies for equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities and for improvement of living conditions of persons with disabilities in developing countries; 10. Urges Governments to consider making further voluntary contributions to support the work of the Special Rapporteur; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to draw the present resolution to the attention of Member States; 12. Further requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Special Rapporteur on monitoring the implementation of the Rules as an official document at the fiftieth session of the General Assembly under item 107 of the preliminary list, entitled "Social development". * For the discussion, see chap. III, sect. D. Resolution 34/3. Follow-up to the International Year of the Family*The Commission for Social Development, Recalling General Assembly resolution 47/237 of 20 September 1993, in which, inter alia, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit specific proposals on the follow-up to the Year, including a draft plan of action, if deemed appropriate, to the Assembly at its fiftieth session, Having considered the note by the Secretary-General on the current status of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 47/237 on the International Year of the Family, 12/ Taking note of the United Nations Interregional Meeting of National Coordinators/Focal Points for the International Year of the Family, held at Bratislava from 4 to 7 February 1995, 1. Takes note of the intention of the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, at its fiftieth session, his specific proposals on the follow-up to the International Year of the Family, intended to serve as an indicative guide for action, primarily at the national and local levels; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a concise draft reflecting the outcome of the relevant United Nations conferences and national experiences of the International Year of the Family. * For the discussion, see chap. III, sect. E. Resolution 34/4. Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development* The Commission for Social Development, Having considered its priority subject, the World Summit for Social Development, particularly the arrangements for the implementation and follow- up of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, 13/ Recognizing that the full implementation of the commitments contained in the Declaration and of the recommendations contained in the Programme of Action will contribute to the promotion of social progress, justice and the betterment of the human condition, based on full participation by all, Decides to transmit to the Economic and Social Council the views and considerations of the Commission on the Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, which are annexed hereto. * For the discussion, see chap. IV.
VIEWS AND CONSIDERATIONS OF THE COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE FOLLOW-UP TO THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT [ Up ] 1. The implementation of the commitments and policy recommendations of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development involves Governments, the international community and all actors of civil society. Regional and international organizations have a responsibility to contribute to the implementation and follow-up in order to provide support to Governments, at both the national and international levels. 2. The General Assembly is the principal policy-making organ entrusted with providing the general orientation and decisions for action in the implementation and follow-up of the agreements of the World Summit for Social Development. The Economic and Social Council is entrusted with providing overall system-wide coordination of the implementation of those agreements and should make recommendations in that regard in view of the need for improved efficiency and effectiveness within the United Nations system in addressing social development issues. In that context, the Commission for Social Development, as a functional Commission of the Economic and Social Council, should have a central role in the follow-up of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. This role should be compatible with the functions and contributions of other relevant bodies, organs and organizations of the United Nations system. 3. In order to be able to carry out its responsibilities regarding the implementation and follow-up of the agreements of the Summit, the Commission for Social Development should be in a position to increase the added value of its contributions to international cooperation for social development. To this end: (a) The Economic and Social Council should review the mandate, agenda and composition of the Commission for Social Development, including consideration of an expansion of its membership and the annualization of its meetings, as well as of its reporting system and the effectiveness of its methods of work, with a view to enhancing its contribution to the follow-up of the Summit; (b) The mandate of the Commission should be adapted in order to ensure an integrated approach to social development, taking into account the relationship between social and economic development as defined by the recommendations adopted by the World Summit for Social Development; (c) The Commission should establish the practice of opening its debates to experts and the main actors of civil society in the field of social development. The Commission should also review and update its methods of work in order to fulfil its mandate efficiently; (d) The Commission should contribute to the review of the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action to be undertaken by the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly; (e) The Commission, on the basis of the review of its agenda, should develop a work programme for considering the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. Resolution 34/5. Proposed programme of work of the Division for Social Policy and Development for the biennium 1996-1997* The Commission for Social Development, Having considered the proposed programme of work of the Division for Social Policy and Development for the biennium 1996-1997, 14/ 1. Decides to transmit to the Economic and Social Council the views expressed and comments made thereon during the debate by the Commission at its thirty-fourth session, which are annexed hereto; 2. Requests the Secretariat to make these views and comments available to the Committee for Programme and Coordination, in the most appropriate manner, at its thirty-fifth session, in 1995. * For the discussion, see chap. V. Annex [ Up ] VIEWS EXPRESSED AND COMMENTS MADE DURING THE DEBATE BY THE COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF WORK OF THE DIVISION FOR SOCIAL POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BIENNIUM 1996-1997 1. It was noted that the proposed programme of work of the Division for Social Policy and Development for the biennium 1996-1997 was of a traditional nature and format. It should be possible to be more innovative, while remaining within the framework of the current medium-term plan. 2. The relationship between the programme of work and the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development 13/ was rather weak. Of the eight subprogrammes included in programmes 25 (Global social issues and policies) and 26 (Social integration), only three had outputs specifically referring to the Summit. These were subprogramme 1 of programme 25 (Analysis of emerging social issues): report to the Commission for Social Development on global trends and emerging issues in subject areas considered by the Summit; subprogramme 4 of programme 25 (Strategies for poverty eradication): report to the Commission on the implementation of the recommendations of the Summit and the achievements of the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty; and subprogramme 4 of programme 26 (Social institutions and development): report to the Commission and to the General Assembly on recommendations of the Summit for social integration and policy options for strengthening social institutions. The reasons for the lack of reference to the outcome of the Summit in the other subprogrammes were unclear. 3. The question of the need to shape the work programme in the light of the objectives and policy recommendations of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action was relevant not only for the subprogrammes on global social issues, but also for the subprogrammes on the situation of specific groups. The subprogrammes on youth policies and programmes, ageing policies and programmes and disability policies and programmes should also take into account the decisions made at the Summit. 4. It was noted that one of the three core issues considered by the Summit - employment - appeared to be totally absent from the proposed work programme. 5. The placement of the subprogramme on families in the developing process in programme 25 (Global social issues and policies) rather than in programme 26 (Social integration) was questioned. 6. The proposed programme of work included four ad hoc expert groups: one in subprogramme 2 of programme 25 (Social policy design, planning and coordination) - ad hoc expert group on the integration of social objectives in policy-making and implementation; one in subprogramme 4 of programme 25 (Strategies for poverty eradication) - ad hoc expert group in 1996 on poverty eradication strategies and use of quantitative targets in national and international strategies; one in subprogramme 1 of programme 26 (Youth policies and programmes) - ad hoc expert group and related preparatory work: one session of the youth forum in 1996; and one in subprogramme 4 of programme 26 (Social institutions and development) - expert group on the contribution of cooperatives and farmers' organizations to the achievements of the goals of the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. The mandate, rationale, modalities and financing of these expert groups should be made more explicit. In addition, there should also be a clearer relationship between expert group meetings and the contribution of the work programme to the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. 7. It was further noted that the work programme proposed seven reports for the Commission for Social Development in 1997 and six reports for the General Assembly (one for 1996 and five for 1997). In addition, six non-recurrent publications and five newsletters were also proposed outputs. Within the framework of the mandates currently provided by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, a regrouping of reports and publications should be considered. 8. The Commission considered the work programme, while at the same time studying the role of the Commission in the follow-up of the World Summit for Social Development. Should the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly take decisions that changed the frequency of the sessions of the Commission, as well as other aspects of its functioning, the work programme of the Division for Social Policy and Development would have to be revised accordingly. 9. Some members of the Commission made comments on the question of the resources required for the implementation of the proposed work programme. The Secretariat informed the Commission that, in accordance with current budgetary practices, the possible financial implications of the follow-up of the World Summit for Social Development would be considered by the General Assembly at its fiftieth session in the context of its review of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997. 6. The following decision adopted by the Commission for Social Development is brought to the attention of the Economic and Social Council: Decision 34/102. Questions relating to the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development* At its 12th meeting, on 20 April 1995, the Commission for Social Development took note of the report of the Board of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development 15/ and the note by the Secretary-General on the nomination of members of the Board of the Institute. 16/ * For the discussion, see chap. V. Chapter II. Review of the World Social Situation [ Up ]1. The Commission for Social Development considered agenda item 3 (Review of the world social situation) at its 1st to 3rd meetings, on 10 and 11 April 1995. 2. For its consideration of the item, the Commission had before it an interim report on the world social situation (A/50/84-E/1995/12). 3. At the 1st meeting, on 10 April 1995, an introductory statement was made by the Chief of the Development Analysis Branch, Macroeconomic and Social Policy Analysis Division, Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis. 4. At the same meeting, the representative of Egypt made a statement. 5. At the 2nd meeting, on 10 April 1995, statements were made by the representatives of Argentina, the Sudan and the United States of America, as well as the observer for Canada. 6. At the 3rd meeting, on 11 April 1995, statements were made by the representatives of Mexico, Indonesia, the Russian Federation, France (on behalf of the European Union), Ukraine, Pakistan, Bolivia and Benin, as well as the observer for India. Chapter III. Monitoring of international plans and programmes of action [ Up ]1. The Commission for Social Development considered agenda item 4 (Monitoring of international plans and programmes of action) at its 4th to 6th meetings, on 12 and 13 April 1995. 2. For its consideration of the item, the Commission had before it the following documents: (a) Report of the Secretary-General containing the conceptual framework of a programme for the preparation and observance of the International Year of Older Persons (A/50/114); (b) Report of the Secretary-General on the major issues and programme activities of the United Nations Secretariat and the regional commissions relating to social development and welfare and specific social groups (E/CN.5/1995/2); (c) Report of the Secretary-General on the social welfare and social development activities of the regional commissions for the biennium 1993-1994 (E/CN.5/1995/2/Add.1); (d) Report of the Secretary-General containing the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond (E/CN.5/1995/3); (e) Report of the Secretary-General on measures taken by Member States to observe the International Day of Disabled Persons (E/CN.5/1995/4); (f) Note by the Secretary-General on the current status of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 47/237 on the International Year of the Family (E/CN.5/1995/5); (g) Note by the Secretariat on draft decision III, entitled "Contribution of comprehensive national social policies to societal management and to the solving of economic, environmental, demographic, cultural and political problems", contained in the report of the Commission for Social Development on its thirty-third session (E/CN.5/1995/L.3). 3. At the 4th meeting, on 12 April 1995, introductory statements were made by the Assistant Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development and the Director/Coordinator for the International Year of the Family. 4. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of Germany, Norway, the Dominican Republic and Austria. 5. At the same meeting, statements were also made by the observers for the International Movement ATD Fourth World, the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) and the Foundation for the Rights of the Family (PRODEFA), non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. 6. At the 5th meeting, on 13 April 1995, statements were made by the representatives of the Russian Federation, Belarus, China, Argentina, Pakistan and Indonesia. 7. At the same meeting, statements were also made by the representative of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and by the observer for the American Association of Retired Persons, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. 8. At the 6th meeting, on 17 April 1995, statements were made by the representatives of the Sudan, the United States of America, Malta, France, Mongolia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Ukraine, as well as the observers for Portugal and Sweden. 9. At the same meeting, a statement was also made by the representative of the Economic Commission for Europe. 10. Statements were also made by the representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the observer for the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. 11. At the same meeting, the Special Rapporteur on the Implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities made an oral report to the Commission. Action by the Commission Contribution of comprehensive national social policies to societal management and to the solving of economic, environmental, demographic, cultural and political problems 12. At its 12th meeting, on 20 April, the Commission had before it a note by the Secretariat (E/CN.5/1995/L.3) containing the text of a draft decision which the Commission, at its thirty-third session, had recommended for adoption by the Economic and Social Council. In decision 1993/239, the Council had requested the Commission to reconsider the draft decision, the text of which read as follows: "The Economic and Social Council decides to transmit the following draft resolution to the General Assembly: 'Contribution of comprehensive national social policies to societal management and to the solving of economic, environmental, demographic, cultural and political problems 'The General Assembly, [ Up ] 'Recalling its resolutions 42/125 of 7 December 1987, 44/65 of 8 December 1989 and 46/90 of 16 December 1991 concerning the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future, adopted by the Interregional Consultation on Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes, held at Vienna from 7 to 15 September 1987, 'Recalling also its resolution 47/92 of 16 December 1992 on the convening of a World Summit for Social Development, to be held in Denmark in 1995, in which it decided, inter alia, that the core issues affecting all societies to be addressed by the Summit were: '(a) The enhancement of social integration, particularly of the more disadvantaged and marginalized groups; '(b) Alleviation and reduction of poverty; '(c) Expansion of productive employment; 'Recalling further resolution 33/1 of 17 February 1993 of the Commission for Social Development on the World Summit for Social Development, '1. Takes note with appreciation of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future; '2. Takes note also of the results of the Expert Group Meeting on the Social Consequences of Population Growth and Changing Social Conditions, with Particular Emphasis on the Family, held at Vienna from 21 to 25 September 1992; '3. Urges Governments to accord to social policies a high priority on the national agenda; '4. Encourages Governments to enhance all forms of participation at the local and national levels, in order to establish the essential preconditions for creating a context within which individuals, families and communities will be willing and able to respond to the incentives included within public programmes to enhance local capacities for providing social services; '5. Requests the Secretary-General within existing resources: '(a) To strengthen the capacity of the United Nations to provide the most effective support to Governments in their task of preparing comprehensive national social policies as central elements of their strategies for societal management; '(b) To devote appropriate attention to the need for coordinating international action with the process of formulating and carrying out comprehensive national social policies; '(c) To support, upon the specific request of Member States, national efforts to strengthen effective participation of all citizens in national social policies and programmes; '(d) To include within programme activities in 1994 and 1995 national case-studies of experience in the formulation and implementation of comprehensive social policies, especially in countries suffering from severe economic, political, cultural and environmental pressures, and to ensure the wide dissemination of the results of such studies; '(e) To undertake on a system-wide basis the analysis of national experience and the widespread dissemination of guidelines and of technical support designed to promote and strengthen national capacities for development of comprehensive social policies as intrinsic parts of social development; '(f) To report to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1994, on the further implementation of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future, giving special attention to recent national experience, including guidelines for achieving greater effectiveness.'" 13. At the same meeting, the Commission decided to take no action on the draft decision. Tenth anniversary of the International Youth Year and world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond 14. At the 11th meeting, on 20 April, the representative of the Philippines (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.5/1995/L.12) entitled "Tenth anniversary of the International Youth Year and world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond". The draft resolution read as follows: "The Commission for Social Development, "Recalling General Assembly resolution 45/103 of 14 December 1990, in which the Assembly decided, inter alia, to devote a plenary meeting at its fiftieth session to youth questions, as 1995 marked the tenth anniversary of International Youth Year, "Recalling also General Assembly resolution 47/85 of 16 December 1992, in which the Assembly emphasized the need for the preparation of a world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, with a target orientation and within a specific time-frame, "Bearing in mind that, in resolution 49/152, the General Assembly: "(a) Requested the Commission for Social Development at its thirty- fourth session to consider further the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, as a matter of priority, and to submit it, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session, "(b) Decided to devote up to four plenary meetings at its fiftieth session to mark the anniversary of International Youth Year and to consider the world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond with a view to adopting it, "(c) Invited Member States to participate in the plenary meetings at a high political level and requested the Secretary-General to schedule those meetings as close as possible to 24 October 1995 to facilitate such participation, "(d) Decided to designate, in 1995, an international youth day at the fiftieth session of the General Assembly, [ Up ] "Mindful that the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 1993/24, called upon the Commission for Social Development to give priority at its thirty-fourth session to the refinement of the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, and to establish an ad hoc informal open-ended working group on youth for this purpose, with a view to formulating a final draft to be submitted to the Economic and Social Council in 1995 and to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session, "Considering that the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1993/24 requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the United Nations statement of intent on youth, which could become an integral part of the world programme of action for youth, "Having considered the report of the open-ended Working Group on Youth established by the Commission at its thirty-fourth session to formulate a final draft of the world programme of action for youth, to be submitted to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1995 and to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session, "Aware of the need for an extended time-frame in the light of the conditions and considerations set out in the report of the Working Group, "Recognizing the urgency of formulating the final draft of the world programme of action for youth to be considered by the General Assembly at high-level meetings at its fiftieth session, with a view to adopting it, in conformity with its resolution 49/152, "1. Decides to consider the final draft of the world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, as a matter of priority, at a resumed session to be approved by the Economic and Social Council; "2. Recommends that the Economic and Social Council approve the resumption of the thirty-fourth session of the Commission for a period of two or three days prior to the resumed session of the Council, taking into account the provisions of General Assembly resolution 49/152; "3. Decides, for that purpose, to extend the open-ended Working Group on Youth, established by the Commission, to undertake inter- sessional consultations on the formulation of the final draft of the world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond for submission to the Commission at its resumed session; "4. Encourages the open-ended Working Group to incorporate in the final draft of the programme of action the main elements of the internationally agreed issues regarding youth as set out in the final documents of the International Conference on Population and Development, the World Summit for Social Development and the Fourth World Conference on Women; "5. Requests the Secretary-General to schedule the high-level plenary meetings of the Assembly, as decided by the Assembly in its resolution 49/152, to take place following the resumed session of the Economic and Social Council; "6. Invites Member States that have not yet done so, to submit their national reports to mark the tenth anniversary of International Youth Year; "7. Decides to consider the follow-up of the world programme of action for youth at its thirty-fifth session." 15. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of the United States of America and France (on behalf of the European Union). 16. At the same meeting, the Chairman of the Open-ended Working Group on Youth, Mr. Abdel Ghaffer Eldeeb (Egypt), made an oral report to the Commission. The oral report was as follows: The Open-ended Working Group on Youth held an informal organizational meeting on Thursday, 13 April, and seven substantive meetings between Monday, 17 April, and Wednesday, 19 April 1995. Following informal consultations it was decided to hold the first meeting on the basis of the informal, unedited English text of the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond (to be considered in substance upon the receipt of the official document). A general exchange of views was undertaken on the programme of work, and the mandate of the Working Group as set out in Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/24 and General Assembly resolution 49/152. In response to an official request the Working Group decided to consider the text paragraph by paragraph. It was also decided to consider the text on the United Nations Declaration of Intent, to be included as an integral part of the programme of action, and to become chapter I, on the understanding that the preamble would be merged with the statement of purpose and reworded to form a concise preamble to the whole integrated document. Having received the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.5/1995/3) on Monday, 17 April 1995, the Working Group proceeded to its consideration immediately following the plenary meetings of the Commission on the same day. The Working Group was able to complete a first reading, on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis, of the proposed integrated programme of action, including the United Nations Declaration of Intent as amended, as well as the new priorities and elements proposed by the representatives of interested groups and delegations. The Working Group considered and adopted proposals to insert in the draft world programme of action the main elements of principles, policies and actions involving youth as internationally agreed and as set out in the reports of the United Nations Conferences held after the preparation of the first draft programme of action. The Working Group reached an understanding that the proposed elements, in this regard, would be considered by the Working Group with a view to inserting them in the relevant sections of the draft in the second reading. The chapters and sections of the proposed draft considered by the Working Group in the first reading are reflected in the revised text as indicated below. The preamble, including paragraphs 1 to 5, are to be redrafted. The consideration of the main chapters of the draft programme of action was as follows: (a) Chapter I: The United Nations Declaration of Intent (paragraphs 1 and 2 were considered; paragraphs 3 and 4 are outstanding); (b) Chapter II: Outstanding; [ Up ] (c) Chapter III: Adopted as amended; (d) Chapter IV: Considered and adopted as amended, except for certain sections; (e) Chapter V: "Means of implementation" was considered in its entirety and adopted as amended. In the light of the facts given and the constraints of time, and mindful of the urgent need to formulate the final draft programme of action, to be considered, with a view to its adoption, by the General Assembly at high-level meetings in accordance with its relevant resolutions: It is evident that the Working Group has considered a great deal of the draft during the first reading, giving evidence of its ability to achieve its mandate completely. The Working Group should be given the amount of time needed to consider the remaining parts of the draft under consideration in the first reading and to conclude its consideration in the productive process already under way. I have been approached by the Group of 77 and China and by many other interested members and observers who stated their preference that the Commission resume its consideration of this question in order to fulfil its mandate and submit the outcome of its consideration to the Economic and Social Council at its resumed substantive session, as decided by the General Assembly in resolution 49/152, without adding further financial implications in connection with the travel of Commission members. In concluding, I recommend that the Commission consider extending the mandate of the Open-ended Working Group on Youth to enable it to conduct inter-sessional informal consultations to formulate the final draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond and submit it to the Commission for consideration and submission through the Economic and Social Council to the General Assembly in conformity with the relevant terms of reference and rules of procedure. This recommendation aims at the fulfilment of the mandate given in General Assembly resolution 49/152 and Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/24. 17. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of France (on behalf of the European Union), Mexico, the Philippines (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), the United States of America, Sudan, the Russian Federation, Co^te d'Ivoire, Pakistan and Egypt, as well as the observer for the Holy See. 18. At the 12th meeting, on 20 April, the Secretary of the Commission read out a statement on the programme budget implications of the draft resolution. 19. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representatives of France (on behalf of the European Union), Egypt and the Philippines (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 20. At the same meeting, the Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development made a statement. 21. The meeting was suspended. Upon its resumption, the representative of the Philippines (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China) proposed oral amendments to the draft resolution as follows: (a) In the sixth preambular paragraph, the words "Chairman of the" were inserted after the words "Having considered the report of the"; (b) Operative paragraph 1 was replaced with the following: "Recognizes the important work that the Open-ended Working Group on Youth has done in revising the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, in spite of the delay in the availability of the relevant document, which made it impossible for the Working Group to complete its work"; (c) Operative paragraph 2 was replaced with the following: "Recommends that the Economic and Social Council establish an open- ended working group on youth, during its resumed substantive session in September 1995, building upon the progress made by the Open-ended Working Group set up by the Commission during its thirty-fourth session, to complete the formulation of the draft world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond"; (d) Operative paragraph 3 was replaced by the following: "Recommends to the Economic and Social Council, for that purpose, that the Open-ended Working Group on Youth established by the Commission undertake informal consultations on the formulation of the final draft of the world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond for submission to the Council at its substantive session". 22. At the same meeting, the representative of France (on behalf of the European Union) made a statement. 23. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as orally amended. For the final text, see chapter I, section C, Commission resolution 34/1. 24. After the adoption of the draft resolution, the Chairman made the following statement: "It must be understood that this procedure is proposed due to the time- limit established in General Assembly resolution 49/152 and must not be taken as a precedent." International Year of Older Persons: towards a society for all ages [ Up ] 25. At the 10th meeting, on 19 April, the representative of the Philippines (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.5/1995/L.6) entitled "International Year of Older Persons: towards a society for all ages". The draft resolution read as follows: "The Economic and Social Council "Recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution: 'International Year of Older Persons: towards a society for all ages 'The General Assembly, 'Recalling its resolution 47/5 of 16 October 1992 in which it decided to observe the year 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons, 'Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/22 of 27 July 1993 in which the Council invited Member States to strengthen their national mechanisms on ageing, inter alia, to enable them to serve as national focal points for the preparations and observance of the Year, 'Taking note of General Assembly resolution 45/106 of 14 December 1990 in which it recognized the complexity and rapidity of the ageing of the world's population and the need to have a common basis and frame of reference for the protection and promotion of the rights of older persons, including the contribution that older persons could and should make to society, 'Bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 49/162 of 23 December 1994 entitled "Integration of older women in development", '1. Endorses the conceptual framework for the preparation and observance of the International Year of Older Persons, 1999, as contained in the report of the Secretary-General; '2. Invites Member States to adapt the conceptual framework to national conditions and to consider formulating national programmes for the Year; '3. Also invites the concerned United Nations organizations and bodies to examine the conceptual framework and identify areas for expanding upon it in keeping with their mandates; '4. Requests the Secretary-General to monitor activities for the Year and to make appropriate coordinating arrangements, bearing in mind that the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development of the United Nations Secretariat has been designated the United Nations focal point on ageing; '5. Encourages the Secretary-General to allocate sufficient resources for promoting and coordinating activities for the Year, bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 47/5 in which it was decided that observance of the Year would be supported by the regular programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999; '6. Invites Member States, United Nations organizations and bodies and non-governmental organizations to assist the global coordinating entity for the Year; '7. Invites the regional commissions to explore the feasibility of convening regional meetings in 1998 and 1999 at which to mark the Year and formulate action plans on ageing for the twenty-first century; '8. Encourages relevant United Nations funds and programmes and specialized agencies to support local, national and international programmes and projects for the Year; '9. Encourage the United Nations Development Programme to continue to ensure that the concerns of older persons are integrated into its development programmes; '10. Invites the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and other relevant research institutes to consider preparing studies on the four facets of the conceptual framework, namely, the situation of older persons, the life course, multigenerational relationships and the relationship between population ageing and development, and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women to continue its research on the situation of older women including in the informal sector; '11. Encourages the Department of Public Information of the United Nations Secretariat, within existing resources, to launch an information campaign for the Year; '12. Invites the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to continue its work on ageing and the situation of older persons, as covered in the report of the Committee; '13. Also invites non-governmental organizations to develop programmes and projects for the Year, particularly at the local level in cooperation, inter alia, with local authorities, community leaders, enterprises, the media and schools; '14. Recommends that henceforth the term "older persons" be substituted for the term "the elderly", in conformity with the United Nations Principles of Older Persons, with the result that the Year and the Day concerned shall be called the International Year of Older Persons and the International Day of Older Persons respectively; '15. Requests the Commission for Social Development to establish an in-session working group at its thirty-fifth session to consider the major findings of the fourth review and appraisal of the implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing and a programme for the observance of the International Year of Older Persons, 1999; '16. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session on the preparations being made by Member States, United Nations organizations and bodies and non-governmental organizations for the observance of the Year.'" 26. In introducing the draft resolution, the representative of the Philippines orally revised operative paragraph 14 by replacing the word "Recommends" with the word "Decides". 27. At the 12th meeting, on 20 April, the Secretary of the Commission read out the following additional revisions to the draft resolution: (a) In operative paragraph 1, the word "Endorses" was replaced with the words "Takes note of"; (b) Operative paragraph 7 was revised to read: [ Up ] "Invites the regional commissions, within their existing mandates, to bear in mind the goals of the Year in convening regional meetings in 1998 and 1999 at which to mark the Year and formulate action plans on ageing for the twenty-first century"; (c) Operative paragraph 15 was deleted. 28. The representatives of Germany and the Netherlands subsequently joined in sponsoring the draft resolution. 29. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as further orally revised. For the final text, see chapter I, section A, draft resolution. Monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities 30. At the 11th meeting, on 20 April, the representative of the Dominican Republic in her capacity as Chairman of the Working Group on Monitoring the Implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.5/1995/L.10) entitled "Monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities". 31. At the 12th meeting, on 20 April, the representative of Germany amended the last preambular paragraph by inserting the word "however" after the words "Noting with concern". 32. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution as orally amended. For the final text, see chapter I, section E, Commission resolution 34/2. 33. At the same meeting, the representative of the Sudan made a statement. Follow-up to the International Year of the Family 34. At the 11th meeting, on 20 April, the representative of Austria, also on behalf of the Dominican Republic and Germany, introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.5/1995/L.11) entitled "Follow-up to the International Year of the Family". 35. In introducing the draft resolution, the representative of Austria orally revised operative paragraph 2 by replacing the words "Requests the General Assembly" with the words "Requests the Secretary-General". 36. Bolivia, Co^te d'Ivoire, India, Indonesia, Malta, Mongolia, Nigeria, the Philippines, the Sudan and the Russian Federation subsequently joined in sponsoring the draft resolution. 37. At the same meeting, the representative of the United States of America made a statement. 38. At the 12th meeting, on 20 April, the Secretary of the Commission made a statement. 39. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution as orally revised. For the final text, see chapter I, section E, Commission resolution 34/3. Chapter IV. Priority subject: World Summit for Social Development
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