UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations A/60/501
General Assembly Distr.: General
17 November 2005
Original: English
05-60981 (E) 021205
*0560981*
Sixtieth session
Agenda item 62
Social development, including questions relating to the
world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled
persons and the family
Report of the Third Committee
Rapporteur: Mr. Pedro Cardoso (Brazil)
I. Introduction
1. At its 17th plenary meeting, on 20 September 2005, the General Assembly, on
the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of
its sixtieth session the item entitled “Social development, including questions
relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the
family” and to allocate it to the Third Committee.
2. The Third Committee considered the item at its 1st to 5th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 21st
and 41st meetings, from 3 to 5, and on 10, 12, 13 and 21 October and 15 November
2005. At its 1st to 5th meetings, the Committee held a general discussion on item 62
jointly with items 61 and 63. An account of the Committee’s discussion is contained
in the relevant summary records (see A/C.3/60/SR.1-5, 9, 11, 14, 21 and 41).
3. For its consideration of the item, the Committee had before it the following
documents:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the World Youth Report 2005
(A/60/61-E/2005/7);
(b) Report on the World Social Situation, 2005 (A/60/117);
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the implementation
of the International Year of Volunteers (A/60/128);
(d) Report of the Secretary-General on a global analysis and evaluation of
national action plans on youth employment (A/60/133 and Corr.1);

A/60/501
(e) Report of the Secretary-General on cooperatives in social development
(A/60/138);
(f) Report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to and celebration of
the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and beyond (A/60/155);
(g) Report of the Secretary-General on making commitments matter: young
people’s input to the 10-year review of the World Programme of Action for Youth to
the Year 2000 and Beyond (A/60/156);
(h) Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons: towards a society for all in the
twenty-first century (A/60/290);
(i) Identical letters dated 24 August 2005 from the Permanent
Representative of Qatar to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,
the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Economic and Social
Council, transmitting the Declaration of the Doha International Conference on
Ageing in View of Present-Day Changes (A/60/377-E/2005/92).
4. At the 1st meeting, on 3 October, introductory statements were made by the
Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, the Director of the
Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and
Social Affairs and the representative of the United Nations Volunteers programme
of the United Nations Development Programme (see A/C.3/60/SR.1).
5. At the same meeting, the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic
Development, the Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development and
the representative of the United Nations Volunteers programme responded to a
question posed by the representative of South Africa (see A/C.3/60/SR.1).
II. Consideration of proposals
A. Draft resolution A/C.3/60/L.3 and Rev.1
6. At the 11th meeting, on 12 October, the representative of the Philippines, on
behalf of Australia, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Japan, Mexico, Myanmar, the Philippines and Timor-Leste, introduced a draft
resolution entitled “Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons: realizing the Millennium Development Goals for persons with
disabilities” (A/C.3/60/L.3). Subsequently, Mongolia and Indonesia joined in
sponsoring the draft resolution, which read:
“The General Assembly,
“Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations, and reaffirming the obligations contained in relevant human rights
instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
“Recalling also its relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 37/52 of
3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons, resolution 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which
it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons

A/60/501
with Disabilities, and resolution 58/132 of 22 December 2003, as well as the
relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council and its functional
commissions,
“Recalling further the adoption of the United Nations Millennium
Declaration, in September 2000 and the 2005 World Summit Outcome in
September 2005 by heads of State and Government, stressing the need to
promote and protect the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental
freedoms by persons with disabilities, and recognizing the importance of
incorporating the disability perspective in the implementation of the outcomes
of the major United Nations conferences and summits, with a view to
achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those
contained in the Millennium Declaration,
“Noting with appreciation the initiatives and actions of Governments to
implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,
relevant sections of the Standard Rules and of relevant resolutions that give
special attention to the questions of accessible environments and information
and communication technologies, health, education and social services,
employment and sustainable livelihoods, including the relevant activities of
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, which reflect the
strong commitment to the equalization of opportunities and the promotion and
protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with
disabilities, including in the context of development,
“Noting that the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,
adopted by the Second World Assembly on Ageing, considers ‘older persons
and disabilities’ as a specific issue for policy concern,
“Recognizing the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive
and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the
Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities in preparing a draft text of the
convention,
“Acknowledging the complementary contributions of all existing
international frameworks on disability,
“Aware of the fact that there are at least six hundred million persons with
disabilities worldwide, of whom approximately eighty per cent live in
developing countries,
“Recognizing the important role of the World Programme of Action in
the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,
“Recognizing also that in many countries the prerequisites for achieving
the purposes of the World Programme of Action are economic and social
development, extended services provided to the whole population in the
humanitarian area, the redistribution of resources and income and an
improvement in the living standards of the population,
“Acknowledging the important role of non-governmental organizations in
the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights by
persons with disabilities, and noting in this regard their work in promoting the
elaboration of an international convention on the rights of disabled persons,

A/60/501
“Noting with appreciation the important contributions of regional
intergovernmental organizations and the regional commissions of the United
Nations in promoting awareness and building capacities for the full
participation and equality of persons with disabilities, as well as the outcome
of international conferences relating to persons with disabilities,
“Mindful of the need to adopt and implement effective policies and
strategies to promote the rights and the full and effective participation of
persons with disabilities at all levels,
“Recognizing the importance of accessibility both of the physical
environment and of information and communication in enabling persons with
disabilities to enjoy fully their human rights and play an active part in the
development of society,
“Reiterating that technology, in particular information and
communication technologies, provides new possibilities for improving
accessibility and employment for persons with disabilities and for facilitating
their full and effective participation and equality, and stressing in this regard
the importance of enhancing the transfer of technology among countries and
technical and economic cooperation in the development and dissemination of
appropriate disability-related technologies and know-how,
“Recognizing the importance of timely and reliable data on disabilitysensitive
topics, programme planning and evaluation and the need for the
further development of practical statistical methodology for the collection and
compilation of data on populations with disabilities, and welcoming the
initiatives of various United Nations agencies and regional groups in the area
of collection of disability-related data and information,
“Recognizing also the need to address the challenge of better
incorporating the disability perspective in development and technical
cooperation activities,
“Recognizing further the need to improve the quality of life of persons
with disabilities worldwide through the enhancement of awareness of and
sensitivity to disability issues and respect for the full enjoyment of all human
rights by persons with disabilities and by ensuring that the benefits of
development programmes also reach them,
“Recognizing that because the vast majority of persons with disabilities
continue to be left out of development and dispossessed of their basic human
rights, the impact of poverty on the conditions of persons with disabilities,
especially in rural areas, should be given prominent consideration in the
elaboration of national and international development strategies,
“Expressing grave concern that situations of armed conflict continue to
have especially devastating consequences for the human rights of persons with
disabilities,
“1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the
implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled
Persons, including his recommendations to mainstream the disability
perspective in United Nations international and national development

A/60/501
frameworks and to consider the effective synergy in monitoring the
implementation of the existing international frameworks on disability;
“2. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on disability of the
Commission for Social Development to promote the full enjoyment of all
human rights by, and the equalization of opportunities for, persons with
disabilities, and encourages her to continue her work, bearing in mind the
background of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;
“3. Calls upon Governments to take all necessary measures to advance
beyond the adoption of national plans for people with disabilities through,
inter alia, the creation or reinforcement of arrangements for the promotion and
awareness of disability issues and the allocation of sufficient resources for the
full implementation of existing plans and initiatives, and emphasizes in this
regard the importance of supporting national efforts through international
cooperation;
“4. Urges Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations to promote effective measures for the prevention of disability
and the rehabilitation of persons with disability, as elaborated in the World
Programme of Action;
“5. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental and nongovernmental
organizations and the private sector, within their responsibilities
and mandates, to continue to take concrete measures to mainstream the
disability perspective into the development process and promote the
implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions and agreed
international standards concerning persons with disabilities, in particular the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities, and for the further equalization of opportunities for persons with
disabilities;
“6. Encourages Governments to continue their support to nongovernmental
organizations and other groups, including organizations of
persons with disabilities, that contribute to the fulfilment of the
implementation of the World Programme of Action;
“7. Also encourages Governments to involve persons with disabilities
in the formulation of strategies and plans, in particular those pertaining to
them;
“8. Urges relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations
system, including the development agencies and funds, relevant human rights
treaty bodies and the regional commissions, as well as intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations and institutions, to incorporate the disability
perspective in their activities, as appropriate, and to continue to work closely
with the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Secretariat for the
equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities and the promotion of
the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons
with disabilities, including in activities at the field level;
“9. Stresses the importance of improving data and statistics on persons
with disabilities, in compliance with national legislation on the protection of
personal data, so that they can be compared internationally and domestically

A/60/501
for purposes of policy design, planning and evaluation from the disability
perspective, urges Governments, in this regard, to cooperate with the Statistics
Division of the Secretariat in the continuing development of global statistics
and indicators on disability, and encourages them to avail themselves of the
technical assistance of the Division to build national capacities for national
data-collection systems;
“10. Urges Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations to provide special protection to persons with disabilities from
marginalized sectors of society, in particular women and children with
disabilities, who may be vulnerable to multiple or aggravating forms of
discrimination, with special emphasis on integrating them into society and
protecting and promoting their full enjoyment of all human rights;
“11. Urges Governments to address the situation of persons with
disabilities with respect to all actions taken to implement existing human
rights treaties to which they are parties and in efforts taken towards achieving
the Millennium Development Goals;
“12. Invites Member States and observers to continue to participate
actively and constructively in the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and
Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the
Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, with a view to the early
conclusion of a draft text of a convention, in order to present it to the General
Assembly, as a matter of priority, for its adoption;
“13. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental organizations,
concerned non-governmental organizations and the private sector to continue
to support the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability, with a view to
strengthening its capacity to support catalytic and innovative activities to
implement fully the World Programme of Action and the Standard Rules,
including the work of the Special Rapporteur, and to support activities to build
national capacities, with emphasis on priorities for action identified in the
present resolution;
“14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to support the initiatives
of relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as
those of regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and
institutions, for the further implementation of the World Programme of Action,
including the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights by, and nondiscrimination
in respect of, persons with disabilities, as well as efforts to
integrate persons with disabilities in technical cooperation activities, both as
beneficiaries and as decision makers;
“15. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts in
improving the accessibility of the United Nations for persons with disabilities,
and urges him to continue to implement plans to provide a barrier-free
environment;
“16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General
Assembly at its sixty-second session on the global implementation of the
World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, with respect to
overall efforts being taken to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,
including possible options to improve the complementarity and synergy in the

A/60/501
implementation of the World Programme of Action and other United Nations
disability mechanisms and instruments, taking into account the strengths and
main elements of the World Programme of Action as well as its important role
in providing policy guidelines for States.”
7. Also at the 11th meeting, the representative of the Philippines orally revised
the text and announced that those revisions would be included in a revised text.
8. At its 21st meeting, on 21 October, the Committee had before it a revised draft
resolution (A/C.3/60/L.3/Rev.1), submitted by the sponsors of draft resolution
A/C.3/60/L.3 and Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Morocco,
the Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Subsequently, Albania,
Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Chile,
Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, El
Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea,
Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, the
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Monaco,
Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, the Republic of
Moldova, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, South Africa,
Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia
and Zimbabwe joined in sponsoring the revised draft resolution.
9. At the same meeting, the Committee was advised that the revised draft
resolution had no programme budget implications.
10. At the 21st meeting, the representative of the Philippines orally revised the
text by replacing the word “work” in the seventh preambular paragraph by the word
“progress”.
11. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution
A/C.3/60/L.3/Rev.1, as orally revised, without a vote (see para. 27, draft resolution I).
12. After the adoption of the draft resolution, a statement was made by the
representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (see A/C.3/60/SR.21).
B. Draft resolution A/C.3/60/L.4
13. At the 11th meeting, on 12 October, the representative of Mongolia, on behalf
of Benin, Brazil, China, Colombia, the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Kenya,
Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, the Philippines, Senegal, the
Sudan, Switzerland and Thailand, introduced a draft resolution entitled
“Cooperatives in social development” (A/C.3/60/L.4). Subsequently, Antigua and
Barbuda, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Costa Rica, the Dominican
Republic, Djibouti, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malawi, Mali, Nepal,
Panama, South Africa, Timor-Leste and Tunisia joined in sponsoring the draft
resolution.

A/60/501
14. At the same meeting, the representative of Mongolia orally revised the draft
resolution as follows:
(a) In the third preambular paragraph, the words “five-year” before the word
“reviews” were deleted;
(b) In operative paragraph 3, the words “and requirements” were inserted
after the words “administrative provisions”;
(c) In operative paragraph 4, the words “five-year” before the word
“reviews” were deleted;
(d) In operative paragraph 4, subparagraph (c), the words “inter alia” were
inserted before the word “through joint consultative councils”.
15. At its 14th meeting, on 13 October, the Committee was advised that the draft
resolution had no programme budget implications.
16. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.3/60/L.4, as
orally revised, without a vote (see para. 27, draft resolution II).
C. Draft resolution A/C.3/60/L.6 and Rev.1
17. At the 9th meeting, on 10 October, the representative of Jamaica, on behalf of
the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and
China, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Follow-up to the tenth anniversary of
the International Year of the Family and beyond” (A/C.3/60/L.6). Belarus joined in
sponsoring the draft resolution, which read:
“The General Assembly,
“Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 50/142 of
21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997, 54/124 of 17 December 1999,
56/113 of 19 December 2001, 57/164 of 18 December 2002, 58/15 of 3 December
2003, 59/147 of 20 December 2004 and 59/111 of 6 December 2004
concerning the proclamation of the International Year of the Family, the
preparations for observance of and follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family,
“Noting that in paragraph 5 of its resolution 59/111 and paragraph 2 of its
resolution 59/147, respectively, the General Assembly underlined the need to
realize the objectives of the International Year of the Family and to develop
concrete measures and approaches to address national priorities in dealing with
family issues,
“Cognizant that the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the
Family in 2004 provided an impetus for integrating family concerns into the
national development planning process,
“Aware that the basic objective of the follow-up to the tenth anniversary
of the International Year of the Family is to support families in performing
their societal and developmental functions and to build upon their strengths, in
particular at the national and local levels,
“Recognizing the need to assist families in their supporting, educating
and nurturing roles in contributing to social integration,

A/60/501
“Convinced of the necessity of ensuring an action-oriented follow-up to
the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family beyond 2004,
“Recognizing the important catalytic and supportive role of United
Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and the regional commissions in
promoting international cooperation by ensuring an action-oriented follow-up
in the family field,
“Cognizant of the need for continued inter-agency cooperation on the
family in order to generate greater awareness of family issues among the
governing bodies of the United Nations system,
“Recognizing that civil society, including research and academic
institutions, have a pivotal role in advocacy, promotion, research, and
policymaking in respect of family policy development,
“Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the
celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and
beyond,
“1. Encourages Governments to continue to make every possible effort
to realize the objectives of the International Year of the Family and to integrate
a family perspective into policymaking;
“2. Invites Governments to maintain the national coordination
mechanisms established or revitalized during the observance of the tenth
anniversary of the International Year of the Family to coordinate policies,
programmes and strategies in order to bring about positive transformations by
integrating family issues into national development planning;
“3. Recommends that Governments, in cooperation with concerned
academic and research centres as well as relevant non-governmental
organizations, encourage action-oriented research that addresses public
policies with a family perspective, utilizing participatory methodologies and
techniques to elaborate priority issues and needs of families;
“4. Also recommends that the research activities of Governments be
supplemented with research and publications on relevant topics conducted and
supported by the United Nations programme on the family;
“5. Encourages Governments to support the United Nations Trust Fund
on the Family to enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the
Secretariat to provide expanded assistance to countries, upon their request;
“6. Invites Member States, the specialized agencies and
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to address familyrelated
concerns within the framework of the commitments undertaken at
relevant major United Nations conferences and in their follow-up processes;
“7. Urges Member States to create a conducive environment for all
families regardless of sex, age, status or disability, with particular attention to
the rights of women and girls;
“8. Encourages continued and increased inter-agency cooperation
within the United Nations system on family-related issues, and encourages the

A/60/501
programmes, funds and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system
to identify focal points on family matters within their offices;
“9. Recommends that all relevant actors, including Governments,
research and academic institutions and civil society, contribute to the
development of strategies, policies and programmes aimed at strengthening the
economic and sustainable livelihood of families;
“10. Calls upon the Secretariat to continue its important role on family
issues within the United Nations system, and in this regard encourages the
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, to continue cooperation with
Governments, the United Nations system and civil society in strengthening
national capacities through the implementation of the mandated objectives of
the International Year of the Family;
“11. Calls upon Member States to undertake a review of the role and
functions of existing national machineries for the family with respect to the
integration of the family issue into national development, and in this regard
invites the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to support national
efforts, upon request;
“12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly
at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present
resolution;
“13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second
session the item entitled ‘Follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family’.”
18. At its 41st meeting, on 15 November, the Committee had before it a revised
draft resolution (A/C.3/60/L.6/Rev.1), submitted by Jamaica, on behalf of the States
Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China, as
well as Azerbaijan, Belarus and the Russian Federation. Subsequently, Armenia and
the United States of America joined in sponsoring the revised draft resolution.
19. At the same meeting, the Committee was advised that the revised draft
resolution had no programme budget implications.
20. Also at its 41st meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution
A/C.3/60/L.6/Rev.1 without a vote (see para. 27, draft resolution III).
21. After the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by the
representatives of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (on
behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the
European Union) and Canada, also on behalf of Norway and Switzerland (see
A/C.3/60/SR.41).
22. A statement was also made by the representative of Australia (see
A/C.3/60/SR.41).
D. Draft resolution A/C.3/60/L.7
23. At the 9th meeting, on 10 October, the representative of Brazil, on behalf of
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El
Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Pakistan,

A/60/501
Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Thailand, the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Uruguay,
introduced a draft resolution entitled “Follow-up to the implementation of the
International Year of Volunteers” (A/C.3/60/L.7). Subsequently, Albania, Andorra,
Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, China, the Congo,
Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea, Estonia, Fiji, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary,
India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, the
Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey and Viet Nam joined in sponsoring the draft
resolution.
24. At its 14th meeting, on 13 October, the Committee was advised that the draft
resolution had no programme budget implications.
25. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.3/60/L.7
without a vote (see para. 27, draft resolution IV).
E. Draft decision proposed by the Chairman
26. At its 41st meeting, on 15 November, on the proposal of the Chairman, the
Committee decided to recommend to the General Assembly that it take note of the
following reports (see para. 28):
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the World Youth Report 2005
(A/60/61-E/2005/7);
(b) Report of the Secretary-General on the World Social Situation, 2005
(A/60/117);
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on a global analysis and evaluation of
national action plans on youth employment (A/60/133 and Corr.1);
(d) Report of the Secretary-General on making commitments matter: young
people’s input to the 10-year review of the World Programme of Action for Youth to
the Year 2000 and Beyond (A/60/156).

A/60/501
III. Recommendations of the Third Committee
27. The Third Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of
the following draft resolutions:
Draft resolution I
Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons: realizing the Millennium Development Goals
for persons with disabilities
The General Assembly,
Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and
reaffirming the obligations contained in relevant human rights instruments,
including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women1 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,2
Recalling also its relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 37/52 of
3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons,3 resolution 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which it adopted the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities,
and resolution 58/132 of 22 December 2003, as well as the relevant resolutions of
the Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions,
Recalling further the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,4
on 8 September 2000, and of the 2005 World Summit Outcome,5 on 16 September
2005, by Heads of State and Government, stressing the need to promote and protect
the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with
disabilities, and recognizing the importance of incorporating the disability
perspective in the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations
conferences and summits, with a view to achieving the internationally agreed
development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration,
Noting with appreciation the initiatives and actions of Governments to
implement the World Programme of Action, the Standard Rules and relevant
resolutions that give special attention to the questions of accessible environments
and information and communication technologies, health, education and social
services, employment and sustainable livelihoods, including the relevant activities
of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, which reflect the strong
commitment to the equalization of opportunities, the rights of persons with
disabilities and the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human
rights by persons with disabilities, including in the context of development,
Reaffirming the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and
summits and their respective follow-up reviews,
__________________
1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378.
2 Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531.
3 A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV).
4 See resolution 55/2.
5 See resolution 60/1.

A/60/501
Noting that the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002, adopted
by the Second World Assembly on Ageing,6 considers “older persons and
disabilities” as a specific issue for policy concern,
Welcoming the progress of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and
Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities in preparing a draft text of the convention,
Acknowledging the complementary contributions of all existing international
frameworks on disability,
Aware of the fact that there are at least 600 million persons with disabilities
worldwide, of whom approximately 80 per cent live in developing countries,
Recognizing the important role of the World Programme of Action in the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,
Recognizing also that the achievement of the purposes of the World
Programme of Action is congruent with economic and social development, extended
services provided to the whole population in the humanitarian area, the
redistribution of resources and income and an improvement in the living standards
of the population,
Acknowledging the important role of non-governmental organizations, in
particular organizations of persons with disabilities, in the promotion and protection
of the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities, and noting in
this regard their work in promoting the elaboration of an international convention on
the rights of disabled persons,
Noting with appreciation the important contributions of regional
intergovernmental organizations and the regional commissions of the United
Nations in promoting awareness and building capacities for the full participation
and equality of persons with disabilities, as well as the outcome of international
conferences relating to persons with disabilities,
Mindful of the need to adopt and implement effective policies and strategies in
all Member States, United Nations agencies, regional intergovernmental
organizations and regional commissions of the United Nations to promote the rights
and the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities at all levels,
Recognizing the importance of accessibility both of the physical environment
and of information and communication in enabling persons with disabilities to enjoy
fully their human rights and to play an active part in the development of society,
Reiterating that technology, in particular information and communication
technologies, provides new possibilities for improving accessibility and employment
for persons with disabilities and for facilitating their full and effective participation
and equality, stressing in this regard the importance of enhancing cooperation
among countries for the transfer of technology and technical and economic
cooperation in the development and dissemination of appropriate disability-related
technologies and know-how, and welcoming the initiatives of the United Nations
and contributions from regional groups in promoting information and
__________________
6 Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.

A/60/501
communication technologies as a means of achieving the universal goal of a society
for all,
Recognizing the importance of timely and reliable data on disability-sensitive
topics, programme planning and evaluation and the need for the further development
of practical statistical methodology for the collection and compilation of data on
populations with disabilities, and welcoming the initiatives of various United
Nations agencies and regional groups in the area of collection of disability-related
data and information,
Recognizing also the need to address the challenge of better incorporating the
disability perspective in development and technical cooperation activities,
Recognizing further the need to improve the quality of life of persons with
disabilities worldwide through the enhancement of awareness of and sensitivity to
disability issues and respect for the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons
with disabilities and by ensuring that the benefits of development programmes also
reach them,
Recognizing that because the vast majority of persons with disabilities
continue to be excluded from the benefits of development and denied the full and
equal recognition and enjoyment of their human rights, the impact of poverty on the
conditions of persons with disabilities, especially in rural areas, should be given
prominent consideration in the elaboration of national and international
development strategies,
Expressing grave concern that situations of armed conflict continue to have
especially devastating consequences for the human rights of persons with
disabilities,
1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General7 on the implementation
of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, including his
recommendations to mainstream the disability perspective in United Nations
international and national development frameworks and to consider the effective
synergy in monitoring the implementation of the existing international frameworks
on disability;
2. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on disability of the
Commission for Social Development to promote the full enjoyment of all human
rights by, and the equalization of opportunities for, persons with disabilities, and
encourages her to continue her work, bearing in mind the background of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;3
3. Calls upon Governments to take all necessary measures to advance
beyond the adoption of national plans for persons with disabilities through, inter
alia, the creation or reinforcement of arrangements for the promotion and awareness
of disability issues and the allocation of sufficient resources for the full
implementation of existing plans and initiatives, and emphasizes in this regard the
importance of supporting national efforts through international cooperation;
4. Urges Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations to promote effective measures, as elaborated in the World Programme
of Action, for the prevention of disability and the provision of appropriate
__________________
7 A/60/290.

A/60/501
habilitation and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities in a manner
respectful of the dignity and integrity of persons with disabilities;
5. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations and the private sector, as appropriate, to continue to take concrete
measures to mainstream the disability perspective into the development process and
promote the implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions and agreed
international standards concerning persons with disabilities, in particular the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities,
and for the further equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities;
6. Encourages Governments to continue and to strengthen their support to
non-governmental organizations and other groups, including organizations of
persons with disabilities, that contribute to the implementation of the World
Programme of Action;
7. Also encourages Governments to involve persons with disabilities in the
formulation of strategies and plans, in particular those pertaining to them;
8. Urges relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system,
including the development agencies and funds, relevant human rights treaty bodies
and the regional commissions, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations and institutions, to incorporate the disability perspective in their
activities, as appropriate, and to continue to work closely with the Division for
Social Policy and Development of the Secretariat for the equalization of
opportunities for persons with disabilities and the promotion of the full enjoyment
of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities,
including in activities at the field level;
9. Stresses the importance of improving data and statistics on persons with
disabilities, in compliance with national legislation on the protection of personal
data, so that they can be compared internationally and domestically for purposes of
policy design, planning and evaluation from the disability perspective, urges
Governments, in this regard, to cooperate with the Statistics Division of the
Secretariat in the continuing development of global statistics and indicators on
disability, and encourages them to avail themselves of the technical assistance of the
Division to build national capacities for national data-collection systems;
10. Urges Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations to provide special protection to persons with disabilities from
marginalized sectors of society, who may be vulnerable to multiple, intersecting or
aggravating forms of discrimination, with special emphasis on integrating them into
society and protecting and promoting their full enjoyment of all human rights;
11. Urges Governments to address the situation of persons with disabilities
with respect to all actions taken to implement existing human rights treaties to
which they are parties and in efforts taken towards achieving the Millennium
Development Goals;
12. Invites Member States and observers to continue to participate actively
and constructively in the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral
International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity
of Persons with Disabilities, with a view to the early conclusion of a draft text of the

A/60/501
convention, in order to present it to the General Assembly, as a matter of priority,
for its adoption;
13. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental organizations, concerned
non-governmental organizations and the private sector to continue to support the
United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability, with a view to strengthening its
capacity to support catalytic and innovative activities to implement fully the World
Programme of Action and the Standard Rules, including the work of the Special
Rapporteur, and to support activities to build national capacities, with emphasis on
priorities for action identified in the present resolution;
14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to support the initiatives of
relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as those of
regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions,
for the further implementation of the World Programme of Action, including the
promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights by, and non-discrimination in
respect of, persons with disabilities, as well as efforts to integrate persons with
disabilities in technical cooperation activities, both as beneficiaries and as decision
makers;
15. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts in
improving the accessibility of the United Nations for persons with disabilities, and
urges him to continue to implement plans to provide an accessible environment;
16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General
Assembly at its sixty-second session, on the global implementation of the World
Programme of Action, with respect to overall efforts being made to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals, also including in the report possible options to
improve the complementarity and synergy in the implementation of the World
Programme of Action and other United Nations disability mechanisms and
instruments, taking into account the strengths and main elements of the World
Programme of Action as well as its important role in providing policy guidelines for
States.

A/60/501
Draft resolution II
Cooperatives in social development
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 47/90 of 16 December 1992, 49/155 of 23 December
1994, 51/58 of 12 December 1996, 54/123 of 17 December 1999, 56/114 of
19 December 2001 and 58/131 of 22 December 2003 concerning cooperatives in
social development,
Recognizing that cooperatives, in their various forms, promote the fullest
possible participation in the economic and social development of all people,
including women, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, and are
becoming a major factor of economic and social development,
Recognizing also the important contribution and potential of all forms of
cooperatives to the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, the
Fourth World Conference on Women, the second United Nations Conference on
Human Settlements (Habitat II), and their reviews, the World Food Summit, the
Second World Assembly on Ageing, the International Conference on Financing for
Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development,
1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;1
2. Draws the attention of Member States to the recommendations contained
in the report of the Secretary-General for further action to promote the greater
participation of cooperatives in poverty reduction, in particular in the design,
implementation and monitoring of poverty reduction strategy papers, where they
exist;
3. Encourages Governments to keep under review, as appropriate, the legal
and administrative provisions and requirements governing the activities of
cooperatives in order to enhance the growth and sustainability of cooperatives in a
rapidly changing socio-economic environment, to broaden and deepen the outreach
of cooperatives among the poor, in particular those in rural areas or in the
agricultural sector, and to promote the participation of women and vulnerable
groups in cooperatives across all sectors;
4. Urges Governments, relevant international organizations and the
specialized agencies, in collaboration with national and international cooperative
organizations, to give due consideration to the role and contribution of cooperatives
in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit for
Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women, the second United
Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), and their reviews, the World
Food Summit, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the International Conference
on Financing for Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and
the 2005 World Summit by, inter alia:
(a) Utilizing and developing fully the potential and contribution of
cooperatives for the attainment of social development goals, in particular the
eradication of poverty, the generation of full and productive employment and the
enhancement of social integration;
__________________
1 A/60/138.

A/60/501
(b) Encouraging and facilitating the establishment and development of
cooperatives, including taking measures aimed at enabling people living in poverty
or belonging to vulnerable groups to engage on a voluntary basis in the creation and
development of cooperatives;
(c) Taking appropriate measures aimed at creating a supportive and enabling
environment for the development of cooperatives by, inter alia, developing an
effective partnership between Governments and the cooperative movement, inter
alia, through joint consultative councils and/or advisory bodies and by promoting
and implementing better legislation, training, research, sharing of good practices
and human resources development;
(d) Taking steps to improve the collection and dissemination of information
and data on the role of cooperatives in poverty reduction and their contribution to
social and economic development;
5. Invites Governments, in collaboration with the cooperative movement, to
develop programmes aimed at enhancing capacity-building of cooperatives,
including by strengthening the organizational, management and financial skills of
their members, and to introduce and support programmes to improve the access of
cooperatives to new technologies;
6. Invites Governments, relevant international organizations, the specialized
agencies and local, national and international cooperative organizations to continue
to observe the International Day of Cooperatives annually, on the first Saturday of
July, as proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/90;
7. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the relevant United
Nations and other international organizations and national, regional and
international cooperative organizations, to render support to Member States, as
appropriate, in their efforts to create a supportive environment for the development
of cooperatives, to continue to provide assistance for human resources development,
technical advice and training and to promote an exchange of experience and best
practices through, inter alia, conferences, workshops and seminars at the national
and regional levels;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at
its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution,
focusing on the role of cooperatives in promoting full and productive employment.

A/60/501
Draft resolution III
Follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International
Year of the Family and beyond
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 50/142 of 21 December
1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997, 54/124 of 17 December 1999, 56/113 of
19 December 2001, 57/164 of 18 December 2002, 58/15 of 3 December 2003,
59/111 of 6 December 2004 and 59/147 of 20 December 2004 concerning the
proclamation of the International Year of the Family, and the preparations for,
observance of and follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the
Family,
Noting that in paragraph 5 of its resolution 59/111 and paragraph 2 of its
resolution 59/147, respectively, the General Assembly underlined the need to realize
the objectives of the International Year of the Family and to develop concrete
measures and approaches to address national priorities in dealing with family issues,
Noting also that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major
United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes
continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred
components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive
approach to development,
Cognizant that the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in
2004 provided an impetus for integrating family concerns into the national
development planning process,
Aware that the basic objective of the follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family is to support families in performing their societal
and developmental functions and to build upon their strengths, in particular at the
national and local levels,
Recognizing the need to assist families in their supporting, educating and
nurturing roles in contributing to social integration,
Convinced of the necessity of ensuring an action-oriented follow-up to the
tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family beyond 2004,
Recognizing the important catalytic and supportive role of United Nations
bodies, the specialized agencies and the regional commissions in promoting
international cooperation by ensuring an action-oriented follow-up in the field of the
family,
Cognizant of the need for continued inter-agency cooperation on the family in
order to generate greater awareness of family issues among the governing bodies of
the United Nations system,
Recognizing that civil society, including research and academic institutions,
has a pivotal role in advocacy, promotion, research, and policymaking in respect of
family policy development,

A/60/501
Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the
follow-up to the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the
Family and beyond,1
1. Encourages Governments to continue to make every possible effort to
realize the objectives of the International Year of the Family and to integrate a
family perspective into policymaking;
2. Invites Governments to maintain the national coordination mechanisms
established or revitalized during the observance of the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family to coordinate policies, programmes and strategies
in order to bring about positive transformations by integrating family issues into
national development planning;
3. Recommends that Governments, in cooperation with concerned academic
and research centres as well as relevant non-governmental organizations, encourage
action-oriented research that addresses public policies with a family perspective and
contributes to the development of strategies, policies and programmes aimed at
strengthening the economic and sustainable livelihood of families, and encourages
the United Nations programme on the family to support and conduct action-oriented
research, including through the issuance of research and publications on relevant
topics, with the aim of supplementing the research activities of Governments;
4. Encourages Governments to support the United Nations Trust Fund on
Family Activities to enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the
Secretariat to provide expanded assistance to countries, upon their request;
5. Urges States, the specialized agencies and intergovernmental and nongovernmental
organizations to address family-related concerns within the
framework of the commitments undertaken at relevant major United Nations
conferences and in their follow-up processes;
6. Urges Member States to create a conducive environment to strengthen
and support all families, recognizing that equality between women and men and
respect for all the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all family members
are essential to family well-being and to society at large, noting the importance of
the reconciliation of work and family life, and recognizing the principle that both
parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the
child;
7. Encourages continued and increased inter-agency cooperation within the
United Nations system on family-related issues, and encourages the programmes,
funds and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to identify focal points
on family matters within their offices to support the integration of family issues in
their work;
8. Calls upon the Secretariat to continue its important role on family issues
within the United Nations system, and in this regard encourages the Department of
Economic and Social Affairs to continue cooperation with Governments, the United
Nations system and civil society in strengthening national capacities through the
implementation of the mandated objectives of the International Year of the Family;
__________________
1 A/60/155.

A/60/501
9. Invites Member States to undertake a review of the role and functions of
existing national machineries for the family in order to better integrate family issues
into national development programmes;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation
of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session;
11. Decides to consider the topic “Follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family” at its sixty-second session under the item entitled
“Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and
to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family”.

A/60/501
Draft resolution IV
Follow-up to the implementation of the International Year
of Volunteers
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 57/106 of 26 November 2002, on the follow-up to the
International Year of Volunteers,
Recognizing the valuable contribution of volunteering, including traditional
forms of mutual aid and self-help, formal service delivery and other forms of civic
participation, to economic and social development, benefiting society at large,
communities and the individual volunteer,
Recognizing also that volunteerism is an important component of any strategy
aimed at, inter alia, such areas as poverty reduction, sustainable development,
health, disaster prevention and management and social integration and, in particular,
overcoming social exclusion and discrimination,
Noting with appreciation the efforts to increase understanding and awareness
of volunteerism through research, global information-sharing and education,
including efforts to develop an effective network for volunteers through, inter alia,
the World Volunteer Web1 and linked national sites,
Acknowledging the existing contribution of the organizations of the United
Nations system to supporting volunteering, including the work of United Nations
Volunteers around the world,
Bearing in mind the need for an integrated and coordinated follow-up to the
International Year of Volunteers to be pursued in the relevant parts of the United
Nations system,
1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General ;2
2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General in response to the report
of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations;3
3. Welcomes the hosting of the first International Conference on
Volunteerism and the Millennium Development Goals, organized jointly by the
Government of Pakistan and the United Nations system and held in Islamabad from
5 to 7 December 2004, and takes note of its final report;1
4. Reiterates its call upon Governments, with the active support of the
media, civil society and the private sector, to observe 5 December as International
Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development and to include activities, in
particular on efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals;
5. Reaffirms the need to recognize and promote all forms of volunteerism as
an issue that involves and benefits all segments of society, including children, young
persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, minorities and immigrants and
those who remain excluded for social or economic reasons;
__________________
1 http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org.
2 A/60/128.
3 A/59/354.

A/60/501
6. Recognizes that volunteering, in particular at the community level, will
help to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those
contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;4
7. Also recognizes the importance of supportive legislative and fiscal
frameworks for the growth and development of volunteerism, and encourages
Governments to enact such measures;
8. Welcomes the work of the United Nations Volunteers, and requests them
to continue their efforts, together with other stakeholders, to raise awareness of
volunteerism, increase reference and networking resources available, provide
technical cooperation to developing countries, upon their request, in the field of
volunteerism and enhance coordination among those operating on the ground;
9. Invites all stakeholders, especially from the private sector community
and from private foundations, to support volunteerism as a strategic tool to enhance
economic and social development, including by expanding corporate volunteering;
10. Calls for the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations
system to integrate volunteerism in its various forms into their policies, programmes
and reports, and encourages the recognition and inclusion of volunteer contributions
in future United Nations and other relevant international conferences;
11. Acknowledges the importance of civil society organizations for the
promotion of volunteerism, and in this respect recognizes that strengthening the
dialogue and interaction between civil society and the United Nations contributes to
the expansion of volunteerism;
12. Encourages Governments to establish partnerships with civil society in
order to build up volunteer potential at the national level, given the important
contribution that volunteerism makes to the fulfilment of the internationally agreed
development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration;
13. Recognizes the increasing attention being given to the economic
dimension of volunteerism, and encourages Governments, with the support of civil
society, to build up a knowledge base on the subject, to disseminate data and to
expand research on other volunteer-related issues, including in developing
countries;
14. Welcomes the work of the United Nations Volunteers in building up the
capacity of the World Volunteer Web1 with a view to enhancing network capabilities
and to expanding information, knowledge and resource management, and
encourages Governments and all stakeholders, in particular the private sector, to
contribute on a voluntary basis to this initiative;
15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its
sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item
entitled “Social development, including questions relating to the world social
situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family” and to include in
the report proposals regarding possible ways to mark the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of Volunteers in 2011.
__________________
4 See resolution 55/2.

A/60/501
28. The Third Committee also recommends to the General Assembly the adoption
of the following draft decision:
Report considered by the General Assembly in connection
with the question of social development
The General Assembly takes note of the following reports:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the World Youth Report 2005;1
(b) Report of the Secretary-General on the World Social Situation, 2005;2
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on a global analysis and evaluation of
national action plans on youth employment (A/60/133 and Corr.1);3
(d) Report of the Secretary-General on making commitments matter: young
people’s input to the 10-year review of the World Programme of Action
for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond.4
__________________
1 A/60/61-E/2005/7.
2 A/60/117.
3 A/60/133 and Corr.1
4 A/60/156.