UN Human Rights Treaties

UNITED NATIONS

A

General Assembly Distr.
GENERAL
A/46/704
2 December 1991
ORIGINAL) ENGLISH
Forty-sixth session Agenda item 94 (a)
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE WORLD SOCIAL SITUATION AND TO YOUTH, AGEING, DISABLED PERSONS AND THE
FAMILY
Report of the Third Committee (Part I)
Rapporteur: Ms. Rosemary SEMAFUMU (Uganda)
I. INTRODUCTION
1. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 20 September 1991, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in its agenda the item entitled "Social development) 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 Committee considered the item at its 20th to 26th, 30th, 35th, 40th and 45th meetings, on 23 to 29 October and 5, 8, 13 and 20 November 1991. An account of the Committee's discussion is contained in the relevant summary records (A/r..3/45/SR.20-26, 30, 35, 40 and 45).
3. For its consideration of the item, the Committee had before it the following documentation:

(a) Report of the Economic and Social Council (A/46/3, chap. VI, sect. B); 1/
(b) Interim report on the world social situation: report of the Secretary-General (A/46/56-E/1991/6 and Corr.1);
1/ To be issued as Official Records of the General Assembly. Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/46/3/Rev.l).
91-46829 0686P (E)
Best Copy Available

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(c) Work being done within the United Nations system on improving quantitative and qualitative indicators on social conditions and standards of living: report of :he Secretary-General (A/46/137-E/1991/40);
(d) Implementation of the programme for International Literacy Year: report of the Secretary-General (A/46/281-E/1991/112);
(e) Policies and programmes involving youth: report of the Secretary-General (A/46/360);
(f) International cooperation on ageing for 1992 and beyond: report, of the Secretary-General (A/46/361);
(g) Progress made in the preparations for the International Year of the family: report of the Secretary-General (A/46/362 and Corr.1);
(h) Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons: report of the Secretary-General (A/46/366);
(i) Implementation of Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near future: report of the Secretary-General (A/46/414);
(j) Note verbale dated 17 July 1991 from the Permanent Representative of Czechoslovakia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (A/46/315);
(k) Letter dated 6 November 1991 from the Permanent Representative of the Philippines addressed to the Secretary-General (A/C.3/46/4).
4. At the 20th meeting, on 23 October, the Director of the Social Development Division, Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations Office at Vienna, and the representative of the Department of International Economic and Social Affairs made introductory statements (see A/C.3/46/SR.20).
5. At the same meeting the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Promotion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons and the representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization made statements (see A/C.3/46/SR.20).
II. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS
A. Draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.4 and amendment thereto contained in document A/C.3/46/L.24
6. By its resolution 1991/7 of 30 May 1991, the Economic and Social Council
recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution

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(A/C.3/46/L.4) entitled: "Monitoring of international plans and programmes of action in the field of social development".
7. At the 35th meeting, on 8 November, the representative of Germany
introduced an amendment (A/C.3/46/L.24) to draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.4,
which read as follows!
"Monitoring of international plans and programmes of action in the field of social development
"Insert the following additional operative paragraph after operative paragraph 11:
12. Endorses the recommendations of the Secretary-General contained in section II, paragraph 3, of his report entitled "Implementation of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future" (A/46/414) and emphasizes the need that the activities in this field be carried out within existing resources.'
"and renumber the following paragraph accordingly."
8. At the same meeting, the representative of Germany proposed that operative paragraph 10 should be updated by replacing the phrase "to be held in the Philippines in October 1991" with the phrase "held in the Philippines from 7 to 11 October 1991".
9. Also at the same meeting, the Committee adopted the draft resolution, as amended, without a vote (see para. 28, draft resolution I).
B. Draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.5
10. By its resolution 1991/10 of 30 May 1991, the Economic and Social Council
recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution
(A/C.3/46/L.5) entitled: "Implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing and related activities".
11. At the 35th meeting, on 8 November, the Committee adopted the draft
resolution, without a vote (see para. 28, draft resolution II).
C. Draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.6
12. By its resolution 1991/14 of 30 May 1991, the Economic and Social Council
recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution
entitled! "Preparation for and observance of the International Year of the
Family".

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13. At the 35th meeting, on 8 November, the Committee adopted the draft
resolution, without a vote (see para. 28, draft resolution III).
0. Draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.18
14. At the 35th meeting, on 8 November, the representative of Mongolia, speaking on behalf of Australia, Bangladesh. Belarus. Burkina Faso. Cuba, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. El Salvador. Guinea. Guatemala. India. Kenya, the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Malaysia. Mali. Mongolia. Morocco. Mozambique. Myanmar. Senegal. Thailand. Ukraine, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Vietnam, introduced a draft resolution (A/C.3/46/L.18), entitled "International Literacy Year". Subsequently Costa Rica and Sri Lanka joined in sponsoring the draft resolution.
15. At the 40th meeting, on 13 November, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.18 without a vote (see para. 28, draft resolution IV).
E. Draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.19
16. At the 30th meeting, on 5 November, the representative of the Dominican Republic, speaking on behalf of Austria, the Dominican Republic and Malta, introduced a draft resolution (A/C.3/46/L.19), entitled "Implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing: integration of the elderly in development".
17. At the 35th meeting, on 8 November, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.19 without a vote (see para. 28, draft resolution V).
F. Draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.20
18. At the 30th meeting, on 5 November, the representative of Ghana, speaking on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are also members of the Group of 77, introduced a draft resolution (A/C.3/46/L.20), entitled "World social situation".
19. At the 45th meeting, on 20 November, the representative of Ghana, speaking on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are also members of the Group of 77, orally revised the draft resolution by introducing, in paragraph 5, the words "majority of" before the words "developing countries" and by deleting the words "long-term" before the words "downward trend". The representative also replaced the words "item entitled", in paragraph 15, by the words "issue of the world social situation under the item".
20. Also at the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.20, as orally revised, by a recorded vote of 140 to 1, with
5 abstentions (see para, 28, draft resolution VI). The voting was as follows:

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In favour Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Against: United States of America.
Abstaining: Belgium, Germany, Israel, Japan and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
21. After the adoption of the orally revised draft resolution, the
representatives of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
Belgium, the United States of America and Japan made statements.
Draft resolutions A/C.3/45/L.21 and L.21/Rev.l
22. At the 35th meeting, on 8 November, the representative of the
Philippines, speaking on behalf of Australia. Austria. Bangladesh. Belgium.
Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, the Dominican Republic.
Ecuador, Egypt. El Salvador. Finland. France. Germany. Greece. Guatemala.
Iceland. Indonesia, Italy, Morocco. Myanmar. Norway. Peru, the Philippines.
Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia.
introduced a draft resolution (A/C.3/46/L.21), entitled "Implementation of the
World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations
Decade of Disabled Persons" which read as follows!

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Implementation of the World Programme of Action
Concerning Disabled Persons and the United
Nation Decade of Disables Persons

"The General Assembly,
"Recalling all its relevant resolutions, including resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, and resolution 37/53 of 3 December 1982, in which, inter alia, it proclaimed the period 1983-1992 the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons as a long-term plan of action,
"Recalling its resolution 43/98 of 8 December 1988, in which it urged Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to translate into action at all levels, as appropriate, the priorities for global activities and programmes during the second half of the Decade, such as those set forth in the annex to the resolution,
"Recalling further the request to the Secretary-General made in its resolution 45/91 of 14 December 1990, to shift the focus of the United Nations programme on disability from awareness-raising to action, with the aim of achieving a society for all by the year 2010, and considering that appropriate means will be required to achieve this,
"Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1991/9 of 30 May 1991, in which the Council invited Member States to review their policies and programmes with the aim of designing national annual priorities until the end of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons in 1992 and concrete long-term strategies to ensure the full implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons beyond the Decade,
"Welcoming the progress made by the ad hoc open-ended working group established by the Commission for Social Development to elaborate standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities,
Noting with concern the deteriorating economic and social situation of many developing countries, which adversely affect vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities,
"Aware of the need for new and concerted efforts, more vigorous and broader action, and measures at all levels to fulfil the objectives of the Decade,
"Expressing its appreciation for the efforts of a number of Member States during the Decade to improve the conditions and well-being of persons with disabilities and the willingness of those States to involve persons with disabilities and their organization in all matters of concern to them,

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"Noting with, appreciation the generous support to the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons provided by some Governments through voluntary contributions,
"Aware of the important role national committees are playing in furthering the implementation of the World Programme of Action,
"Noting with appreciation the convening of the International Meeting on Roles and Functions of National Coordinating Committees on Disability in Developing Countries at Beijing from 5 to 11 November 1990, and the adoption of the Guidelines for the Establishment and Development of National Coordinating Committees on Disability,
"Encouraged by the emergence of organizations of persons with disabilities in all regions and their positive influence on the image and condition of persons with disabilities,
"Noting the important contributions being made by other non-governmental organizations in improving the status of persons with disabilities,
"Recognizing the World Congress of Rehabilitation International, the World Congress of Disabled Peoples' International, the World Congress Blind Union, Independence '92, and other such important events to be held in 1992 as important activities helping both to mark the end of the Decade and to launch future efforts for the disabled,
"Commending the work being carried out by the United Nations Statistical Office and welcoming its publication of the Disability
Statistics Compendium, 2/
"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, 3/
"Desirous of encouraging the continued and practical implementation of the World Programme of Action beyond the Decade,
"1. Reiterates the need to achieve the objectives set out in the agenda for action until the end of the United Nations Decade for Disabled Persons and beyond, 4/ and the preliminary outline of a long-term
2/ United Nations publication, Sales No. 90.XVII.17.
3/ A/46/366.
47 A/45/470, sect. III.

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strategy to the year 2000 and beyond: a society for all, 5/ contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the feasibility study on alternative ways to mark the end of the Decade; 6/
"2. Affirms that, in implementing the agenda for action, special attention should be given to persons with disabilities in developing countries;
"3. Invites Member States, all organizations of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to review and evaluate, with the active participation of persons with disabilities, their current disability-related policies, programmes and available services with a view to identifying areas in which major progress has been achieved, as well as obstacles encountered in the prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities;
"4. Also. .invites all organizations of the United Nations system to incorporate the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities in their programmes and activities both as active agents and beneficiaries;
"5. Stresses the need, within existing resources, for priority to be given to action-oriented programmes that will renew international consensus on and elicit a sustained political commitment by Member States to the implementation of the World Programme of Action beyond the Decade and will ensure the continued improvement of the situation of persons with disabilities;
"6. Endorses the Beijing Guidelines for the Establishment and Development of National Coordinating Committees on Disability contained in document A/C.3/46/4;
"7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Beijing Guidelines are disseminated as widely as possible and to assist Member States in undertaking follow-up measures, especially training seminars, to promote their implementation;
"8. Also requests the Secretary-General to finalize during 1992 the review of the translation into the official languages of the United Nations of the terms 'impairment', 'disability', 'handicap' and 'disabled person' used in the World Programme of Action;
"9. Endorses the Guidelines for the development of organizations of disabled persons, and encourages Governments to consider these guidelines in their national programmes;
5/ Ibid., sect. IV. 6/ A/45/470.

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"10. Calls upon Governments and bodies of the United Nations system to participate actively in the elaboration of the standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities and in this regard to pay attention to the particular needs of women with disabilities;
"11. Requests the Secretary-General to take due note of the recommendations of the expert group meetings held at Stockholm in 1987 7/ and at Jarvenpaa, Finland, in 1990 that organisations of persons with disabilities be fully represented in all United Nations activities related to the Decade and beyond and, in particular, expert group meetings;
"12. Welcomes the announcement by the Government of Canada to host a United Nations expert group meeting to be held in conjunction with Independence '92 at Vancouver, British Columbia, in April 1992 with the objective of drawing up a long-term strategy to implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the year 2000 and beyond, with a particular focus on recommending practical and action-oriented measures that could be implemented in such fields as legislation and governing mechanisms, community-based rehabilitation, independent living, human rights aspects and economic independence and the creation of an effective international mechanism to coordinate and monitor activities from 1992 and beyond;
"13. Welcomes also the offer of the Government of the United States of America to host an international conference on disability, entitled "Setting National Disability Policies - An Agenda for Action";
"14. Decides to devote four of its plenary meetings at its forty-seventh session to mark, at the appropriate global level, the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons;
"15. Emphasizes the need to rationalize the work of and strengthen the Disabled Persons Unit of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, in order to enable it to carry out its role in the implementation, within existing resources, of the objectives of the Decade in an effective and efficient manner;
"16. Reiterates its appeal to Governments for further voluntary contributions to enable the Disabled Persons Unit to strengthen its focal point function on issues related to disabilities;
"17. Reaffirms that the resources of the Voluntary Fund should be used to support catalytic and innovative activities in order to implement further the objectives of the World Programme of Action within the
7/ See CSDHA/DDP/GME/7 of 1 September 1987.

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framework of the Decade and beyond, with priority given, as appropriate, to programmes and projects of the least developed countries;
"18. Invites Governments and non-governmental organizations to continue their contributions to the Voluntary Fund, and calls upon Governments and non-governmental organizations that have not yet done so to consider contributing to the Voluntary Fund so as to enable it to respond effectively to the growing demand for assistance;
"19. Requests the Economic and Social Council at its next session to give its views on the continuation of the Voluntary Fund, with new terms of references in response to General Assembly resolution 45/91 and to submit its recommendations to the Assembly at its forty-seventh session;
"20. Invites Member States to submit updated national reports to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the agenda for action;
"21. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled 'Social development'."
23. At the same meeting, the representative of the Philippines orally revised
the draft resolution by replacing operative paragraph 8, which read:
"8. Also requests the Secretary-General to finalize during 1992 the review of the translation into the official languages of the United Nations of the terms 'impairment', 'disability', 'handicap' and 'disabled person' used in the World Programme of Action;"
with the following paragraph:
"8. Also requests the Secretary-General to finalize during the next year the review of the translation into the official languages of the United Nations of the World Programme of Action, in particular the use of the terms 'impairment', 'disability', 'handicap' and 'disabled person';".
24. At the 45th meeting, on 20 November, the Committee had before it the
revised draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.21/Rev.1. The representative of the
Philippines, speaking on behalf of the sponsors, orally revised the revised
draft resolution by inserting a new fifteenth paragraph of the preamble which
read as follows:
"Commending the work done by the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs as the focal point in the United Nations system for issues of disabilities,"
and by adding the following words at the end of operative paragraph 6: "contained in annex I of document A/C.3/46/4."

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25. Subsequently, Belarus, Cote d'Ivoire. Nigeria, Senegal and the United States of America, joined in sponsoring the revised draft resolution A/C.3/46/L.21/Rev.l.
26. The Committee then adopted the revised draft resolution, as orally revised (see para. 28, draft resolution VII).
27. Upon the proposal of the Chairman, the Committee decided to recommend to the General Assembly that it take note of the reports of the Secretary-General contained in documents A/46/360, A/46/362 and Corr.1 and A/46/414 (see
para. 29, draft decision).
III. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
28. The Third Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of
the following draft resolutions:
DRAFT RESOLUTION I
Monitoring of international plans and programmes of action in the field of social development
The General Assembly.
Recalling its resolution 42/125 of 7 December 1987, in which it endorsed the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future 8/ and requested the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps to ensure the implementation of, and follow-up .action to, the Guiding Principles,
Reaffirming the continued importance and value of strategies and plans of action in different social policy areas directly related to the Guiding Principles, notably those concerning the status of women, the ageing, youth and disabled persons, as well as crime prevention and drug abuse, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 3./ the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 10/ and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 10/ and the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, 11/
8/ E/CONF.80/10, chap. III.
9/ Resolution 217 A (III).
10/ Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
11/ Resolution 2542 (XXIV).

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Recalling its resolution 44/65 of 8 December 1989, in which it decided, inter alia, that social issues as conceived in the Guiding Principles should become a major part of the international development strategy for the fourth United Nations development decade,
Stressing the validity of Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/48 of 28 May 1987, in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to redeploy resources to ensure appropriate follow-up action to the Interregional Consultation on Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes,
Concerned about the lack of appropriate follow-up action to the comprehensive programme of the Guiding Principles in the regions of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean and Western Asia,
1. Reaffirms the validity of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Soc'al Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future as a major framework for action at the local, national, regional and international levels in the field of social welfare and development;
2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on major issues and programme activities of the Secretariat and the regional commissions relating to social development and welfare and specific social groups; 12/
3. Stresses the interrelationship between economic growth and human welfare as one of the principal themes of the international development strategy for the fourth United Nations development decade; 13/
4. Appeals to Governments to make use of the Guiding Principles and to apply their recommendations, as appropriate and in accordance with their national structures, needs and objectives, to inform the Secretary-General of problems in their implementation and to accelerate the follow-up action to the Interregional Consultation on Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes;
5. Welcomes the inclusion of the implementation of the Guiding Principles in the medium-term plan for the period 1992-1997 14./ and the programme budget for the biennium 1990-1991, 15/ as requested in its resolution 44/65;
12/ E/CN.5/1991/3 and Corr.1 and 2 and Add.1. 11/ Resolution 45/199, annex.
14/ official Records of the General all. Assembly, Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/45/6/Rev.1), vol. II, prog. 25.
15/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-fourth Session. Supplement No. 6 (A/44/6/Rev.1), vol. I.

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6. Urges the Secretary-General and the organizations of the United Nations system concerned to continue to include the implementation of the Guiding Principles in their programmes of work and to assist Governments, particularly those of the developing countries, in formulating appropriate social welfare policies in setting up effective programmes according to their needs;
7. Urges. the executive secretaries of the regional commissions to give adequate attention to the recommendations for action at the regional level contained in the Guiding Principles;
8. Stresses the role of non-governmental and voluntary organizations in the implementation of the relevant recommendations of the Guiding Principles, particularly in social crisis management, as reflected in the proceedings of the international expert meeting on the role of voluntary organizations in crisis management: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, drug abuse and mass migration as cases in point, held at Berlin from 18 to 22 November 1990;
9. Urges. Member States in all regions to initiate regional expert group meetings devoted to issues raised in the Guiding Principles and to translate their recommendations into specific social policy activities;
10. Welcomes the idea of holding regional conferences, for example, the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Social Affairs within the European Region, to be held in Czechoslovakia in 1992, and the Fourth Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Social Welfare and Social Development, held in the Philippines from 7 to 11 October 1991;
11. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To strengthen the follow-up action to the Interregional Consultation by, inter alia,, appropriately reflecting the Guiding Principles in global programmes and events, including the preparations for and observance of the International Year of the Family; 16/
(b) To strengthen advisory services to Governments, especially those of developing countries, focusing on the policy, institution-building capacity, planning, administration and training aspects of developmental social welfare;
(c) To ensure that the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Guiding Principles, is provided with sufficient resources, without incurring additional expenses, through the regular budget of the United Nations, for an effective follow-up to the Interregional Consultation;
16/ See resolution 44/82.

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(d) To reflect appropriately resource and programme requirements for monitoring the implementation of the Guiding Principles in the proposed programme budget for 1992-1993;
(e) To report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session, through the Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council, on the progress achieved in the implementation of and follow-up action to the Guiding Principles and the present resolution;
12. Decides to consider the question of the implementation of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future at its forty-eighth session under the item entitled "Social development".
DRAFT RESOLUTION II
Implemantation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing
and related activities
The genera], Assembly,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/50 of 24 May 1989, in which the Council endorsed a draft programme of United Nations activities relating to the tenth anniversary or the adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing, in 1992,
Purfluant to its resolution 45/106 of 14 December 1990, in which it endorsed the action programme on ageing for 1992 and beyond as outlined in the report of the Secretary-General on the question of ageing, 17/ invited Member States, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations to consider innovative and effective ways of cooperating on the selection of targets in the field of ageing during 1991 and 1992, and urged Member States, the organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to participate in the action programme on ageing for 1992 and beyond, especially in selecting targets in the field of ageing, in organizing community-wide activities and in launching an information and fund-raising campaign to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing at the local, national, regional and global levels,
Recalling that in resolution 45/106 it endorsed the convening of an ad hoc working group of the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-second session to monitor the activities for the tenth anniversary, especially the launching of a global information campaign, and the selection of targets that might form the basis of the third review and appraisal of the
17/ A/45/420.

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Plan of Action to be made by the Commission at its thirty-third session, in 1993, and recommended that the Commission give consideration to the desirability of convening, subject to the availability of funds, regional and sectoral meetings on the selection of targets on ageing during 1991 and 1992 and global consultations in 1993 and 1997,
Also recalling that, in resolution 45/106, 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 raference for the protection and promotion of the rights of the elderly, including the contribution that the elderly can and should make to society,
Aware of the plight of the olderly in developing countries, particularly the least developed among them, as well as those in difficult circumstances, such as refugees, migrant workers and victims of conflict,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1751 (LIV) of 16 May 1973 on the aged and social security,
1. Recommends that the United Nations define, on the basis of the recommendations of a small expert group meeting to be held in 1991 within existing resources, targets on ageing to provide a pragmatic focus for the broad and ideal goals of the International Plan of Action on Ageing, and issue them as "Targets on ageing: programme recommendations at the national level for the year 2001";
2. Urges Member States to identify their specific national targets on ageing for the year 2001, on the basis of the proposed targets on ageing;
3. Invites the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to develop, in consultation with United Nations organizations and bodies and international non-governmental organizations, a set of suggested global targets designed to support implementation of the national targets on ageing;
4. Recommends that the General Assembly devote four plenary meetings, that is, two working days, at its forty-seventh session to an international conference on ageing to consolidate a set of targets on ageing for the year 2001 and to celebrate on an appropriate global scale the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing;
5. Urges the United Nations to give special attention to implementing the action programme on ageing for 1992 and beyond;
6. Calls upon the Secretary-General to give all possible support, in the form of both regular and extrabudgetary resources, to the Ageing Unit of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, to enable it to fulfil its mandate as lead agency for the action programme on ageing;

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7. Requests the Secretary-General to designate the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna as coordinator for the preparation of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing and for the implementation of the action programme on ageing for 1992 and beyond;
8. Invites the Secretary-General to explore the feasibility of appointing an interregional adviser on ageing to assist developing countries in expanding their ability to respond effectively to the ageing of their populations;
9. invites the United Nations to examine the feasibility of launching a service composed of experts who are elderly, modelled on the United Nations Volunteers;
10. Urges the United Nations Postal Administration, as called upon in General Assembly resolution 44/67 of 8 December 1989, to issue a stamp to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing;
11. Urges the United Nations to consider, on an exceptional basis, issuing a medal on ageing bearing the emblem of the World Assembly on Ageing to mark activities planned for the decade 1992-2001;
12. Decides to launch a global information campaign on the action programme on ageing for 1992 and beyond, and welcomes the cooperation of the Department of Public Information and the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and other United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations in this endeavour;
13. Recommends that the United Nations provide further advisory services to countries in the process of development, change and transition, at their request, to ensure that the issue of ageing remains an important part of their social development programmes;
14. Adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, based on the International Plan of Action on Ageing, annexed to the present resolution.

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Annex
UNITED NATIONS PRINCIPLES FOR OLDER PERSONS 18/
To add life to the years that have been added to life
The General Assembly.
Appreciating the contribution that older persons make to their societies,
Recognizing that, in the Charter of the United Nations, the peoples of the United Nations declare, inter alia, their determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Noting the elaboration of those rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 19/ the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 20/ and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 20./ and other declarations to ensure the application of universal standards to particular groups,
In pursuance of the International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted by the World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 37/51 of 3 December 1982,
Appreciating the tremendous diversity in the situation of older persons, not only between countries but within countries and between individuals, which requires a variety of policy responses,
Aware that in all countries, individuals are reaching an advanced age in greater numbers and in better health than ever before,
Aware of the scientific research disproving many stereotypes about inevitable and irreversible declines with age,
Convinced that in a world characterized by an increasing number and proportion of older persons, opportunities must be provided for willing and capable older persons to participate in and contribute to the ongoing activities of society,
18/ Based on the International Plan of Action on Ageing; see Report of the World Assembly on Ageing. Vienna, 26 July-6 August 1982 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.82.I.16), chap. VI, sect. A.
19/ Resolution 217 A (III).
20/ Resolution 2200 A (XXI).

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Mindful that the strains on family life in both developed and developing countries require support for those providing care to frail older persons,
Bearing in mind the standards already set by the International Plan of Action on Ageing and the conventions, recommendations and resolutions of the International Labour Organisation, the World Health Organization and other United Nations entities,
Encourages Governments to incorporate the following principles into their national programmes whenever possible:
Independence
1. Older persons should have access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothing and health care through the provision of income, family and community support and self-help.
2. Older persons should have the opportunity to work or to have access to other income-generating opportunities.
3. Older persons should be able to participate in determining when and at what pace withdrawal from the labour force takes place.
4. Older persons should have access to appropriate educational and training programmes.
5. Older persons should be able to live in environments that are safe and adaptable to personal preferences and changing capacities.
6. Older persons should be able to reside at home for as long as possible.
Participation
7. Older persons should remain integrated in society, participate actively in the formulation and implementation of policies that directly affect their well-being and share their knowledge and skills with younger generations.
8. Older persons should be able to seek and develop opportunities for service to the community and to serve as volunteers in positions appropriate to their interests and capabilities.
9. Older persons should be able to form movements or associations of older persons.

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Care
10. Older persons should benefit from family and community care and protection in accordance with each society's system of cultural values.
11. Older persons should have access to health care to help them to maintain or regain the optimum level of physical, mental and emotional well-being and to prevent or delay the onset of illness.
12. Older persons should have access to social and legal services to enhance their autonomy, protection and care.
13. Older persons should be able to utilize appropriate levels of institutional care providing protection, rehabilitation and social and mental stimulation in a humane and secure environment.
14. Older persons should be able to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms when residing in any shelter, care or treatment facility, including full respect for their dignity, beliefs, needs and privacy and for the right to make decisions about their care and the quality of their lives.
Self-fulfilment
15. Older persons should be able to pursue opportunities for the full development of their potential.
16. Older persons should have access to the educational, cultural, spiritual and recreational resources of society.
Dignity
17. Older persons should be able to live in dignity and security and be free of exploitation and physical or mental abuse.
18. Older persons should be treated fairly regardless of acre, gender, racial or ethnic background, disability or other status, and be valued independently of their economic contribution.
DRAFT RESOLUTION III
Preparation for and observance of the international Year of the Family
The General Assembly.
Recalling its resolution 44/82 of 8 December 1989, in which it proclaimed 1994 as International Year of the Family, designated the Commission for Social Development as the preparatory body and the Economic and Social Council as the

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coordinating body for the Year, and requested the Secretary-General to prepare, on the basis of his report and in consultation with Member States, concerned specialized agencies and interested intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, a draft programme for the preparation for and observance of the Year,
Recalling also its resolution 45/133 of 14 December 1990, in which it invited Governments, specialized agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, as well as interested national organizations, to exert all possible efforts in the preparation for and observance of the Year, and requested the Secretary-General to finalize a draft programme for the preparation for and observance of the Year and to submit it for consideration by the Commission for Social Development at its session in 1991 and by the General Assembly at its forty-sixth session,
Conscious of the existence of various concepts of the family in different socio-political and cultural systems,
Noting with satisfaction that the unanimous proclamation by the General Assembly of 1994 as International Year of the Family has increased the awareness and highlighted the importance of family issues among Governments, specialized agencies, regional commissions and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as interested national organizations and, consequently, has promoted a better knowledge of the economic, social and demographic processes affecting families and their members and has focused attention on the equal rights and responsibilities of all family members,
Expressing its appreciation to Governments, specialized agencies and the non-governmental organizations concerned for the activities already taken up in support of the objectives of the International Year of the Family, thereby increasing awareness of family issues at local and national levels,
Haying considered the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Preparation for and observance of the International Year of the Family", 21/
1. Approves for implementation the proposals made by the Secretary-General in his report;
2. Invites all Governments, specialized agencies, regional commissions and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to step up all possible efforts in the preparation for and observance of the International Year of the Family;
3. Welcomes the establishment by the Secretary-General of the Voluntary Trust Fund for the Preparation for and the Observance of the International Year of the Family;
21/ E/CN.5/1991/2.

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4. Reaffirms its invitation to all States to take prompt action to establish national mechanisms, such as coordinating committees, to prepare for, observe and follow up the Year, in particular for the purpose of planning, stimulating and harmonizing the activities of the governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations concerned with the preparation for and observance of the Year;
5. Requests the relevant United Nations preparatory and coordinating bodies for the Year to keep preparations for the Year under constant review;
6. Invites Governments to contribute, as far as possible, resources, including staff, to the secretariat of the Year;
7. Invites all Governments, specialized agencies, regional commissions and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, as well as interested national organizations, to exert all possible efforts in the preparation for and observance of the Year and to cooperate closely with the Secretary-General in achieving the objectives of the Year;
8. Requests that in the planning and executing of programmes and activities for the Year, special attention should be given to socio-economic and cultural conditions in developing countries in the approach to family issues;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide effective means of coordination between the secretariat of the Year and the relevant non-governmental organizations in support of the Year;
10. Urges the Secretary-General to provide adequate staff to the secretariat of the Year and to reflect its strengthening in the proposed programme budget for 1992-1993;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-third session on the state of preparations for the Year;
12. Invites the Commission for Social Development to ensure that all plans, programmes and activities related to the family are in accordance with the concept of equality between women and men as expressed in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 22/ and to ensure the incorporation into the programme of the Year of the principles relating to policies aimed at fostering equality between women and men, as outlined in the report of the Secretary-General; 21/
13. Requests the Commission for Social Development to keep the Commission on the Status of Women informed of the prepa ations for the Year;
22/ Resolution 34/180.

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14. Decides to consider the question of the International Year of the Family, on the basis of a report of the Secretary-General/ at its forty-eighth session under the item entitled "Social development".
DRAFT RESOLUTION IV
International Literacy Year
The General Assembly.
Recalling its resolution 42/104 of 7 December 1987, by which it proclaimed 1990 as International Literacy Year,
Recalling also its resolution 45/126 of 14 December 1990,
Recalling further that in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 22/ and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 24/ the inalienable right of every individual to education is recognized,
Taking note of the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s, 25/ adopted by the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990,
Mindful of the fact that eradication of illiteracy is one of the paramount objectives of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade, 26/
Emphasizing that widespread illiteracy, especially in many developing countries, seriously hinders the process of economic and social development and the cultural and spiritual advancement of society,
Convinced that literacy, especially functional literacy and adequate education, represents an indispensable element for the development and harnessing of science, technology and human resources for economic and social progress,
Confident that International Literacy Year and the World Conference on Education for All resulted in increased awareness and support for literacy efforts and became a turning point in the struggle for a literate world,
23/ Resolution 217 A (III).
24/ See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
25/ A/45/625, annex.
26/ See resolution 45/199, annex.

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Appreciating the exemplary spirit of partnership and cooperation among the sponsors of the Jomtien Conference and underlining the importance of follow-up activities that are necessary on the international, regional and national levels in order to realize the objectives set forth in the World Declaration on Education for Ml, 27/
Noting that the heads of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and other sponsors of the Jomtien Conference, in the Statement of Solidarity to Achieve Education for All, called upon all countries and the international community to join hands and to do all within their power and resources to achieve the full letter and spirit of the goal of ensuring basic education for all by the year 2000,
1. Notes with appreciation the commendable work done in implementing the programme for International Literacy Year by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, other specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system;
2. Commends those Governments which have launched national literacy programmes and attained notable progress in meeting the objectives of International Literacy Year;
3. Notes with satisfaction the firm commitment and active involvement of many non-governmental organizations, mass media and the private sector in support of the Year;
4. Invites Member States, specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to further intensify their efforts to increase literacy and achieve education for all;
5. Appeals anew to Governments, economic and financial organizations and institutions, both national and international, to lend financial and material support to the efforts to promote literacy;
6. Calls upon the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue assuming the role of lead organization in ensuring the follow-up to International Literacy Year and the World Conference on Education for All;
7. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to submit to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session, in
27/ Final report of the World Conference on Education for All:Meeting
Basic Learning Needs, Jomtien, Thailand, 5-9 March 1990. Inter-Agency Commission (UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank) for the World Conference on Education for All, New York, 1990, appendix I.

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1995, through the Economic and Social Council, a report on the progress made and problems encountered in the quest to achieve a literate world;
8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fiftieth session au item entitled "Progress made and problems encountered in the struggle against illiteracy: a mid-decade review".
DRAFT RESOLUTION V
Implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing: integration of the elderly In development
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 40/30 of 29 November 1985, in which it emphasized that the elderly must be considered an important and necessary element in the development process at all levels within a given society,
Recalling also its resolution 45/106 of 14 December 1990, in which it endorsed the action programme on ageing for 1992 28./ and beyond and urged wide participation in the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing,
Recalling further Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/38 of 24 May 1989, in which the Council noted that women constitute a larger part of the older population and that in the years to come the number of elderly women will increase more rapidly in the developing countries than in the developed ones,
Noting with satisfaction the observance of the first International Day for the Elderly on 1 October 1991,
Noting with appreciation the convening of the Expert Group Meeting on Integration of Ageing and Elderly Women into Development, held at Vienna on 7 to 11 October 1991 by the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in collaboration with the American Association of Retired Persons,
Noting with concern that the contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing have steadily declined since 1982 and that if this trend continues the implementation of the Plan of Action will be compromised,
Mindful of the need for innovative and effective international cooperation in the field of ageing if countries are to achieve self-reliance in responding to the ageing of their populations,
28/ A/45/420.

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1. Takes, note of the report of the Secretary-General on international cooperation on ageing for 1992 and beyond; 29/
2. Recommends wide multisectoral cooperation in setting global targets on ageing to be reached by the year 2001 and invites wide participation in the proposed interregional seminar and other meetings on target-setting;
3. Requests Member States to consider setting appropriate and, where feasible, quantifiable, national targets on ageing for the year 2001;
4. Requests all participants in target-setting to pay special attention to practical strategies, identifying in detail the key agencies and the necessary means for reaching the targets;
5. Urges Member States to participate, at the highest level, in the plenary meetings of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session being devoted, iatfir_aiifl, to launching a set of global targets on ageing to be reached by the year 2001;
6. Calls upon Member States to participate in the inquiry for the third review and appraisal of the implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing, in the first half of 1992, and to take the occasion of the review to plan ahead, setting national targets on ageing for the year 2001;
7. Invites the Secretary-General to consider the feasibility of appointing eminent personalities as good will ambassadors for ageing during the decade 1992-2001;
8. Invites Member States, the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, the regional commissions and non-governmental organizations to disseminate widely the United Nations Principles for Older Persons at the local, national, regional and global levels, especially in the year 1992, the tenth anniversary of the World Assembly on Ageing;
9. Urges Member States and non-governmental organizations of the elderly to second in 1992/93 experts and administrative personnel to the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs to help in selected priority activities, including the third review and appraisal of the implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing;
10. Notes with appreciation the support given by the United Nations Population Fund to the applied research and training project entitled "Developmental implications of demographic change: global population ageing" being implemented by the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, and in view of the importance of the subject matter, encourages the United Nations Population Fund to continue its support;
29/ A/46/361.

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11. Invites the United Nations Population Fund to support a senior adviser on population ageing at the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs in view of the importance of the ageing in future population changes and the Centre's role as focal point in the United Nations system for ageing;
12. Calls upon the United Nations Population Fund and all other bodies of the United Nations system involved in preparations for the Conference on Population and Development, 1994, to utilise the results of the study entitled "Developmental implications of demographic change" as a major input to the Conference;
13. Also calls upon the specialized agencies and other relevant bodies of the United Nations system to give recognition to the contribution of the elderly to social and economic development in the context of major events and conferences of the 1990s, such as those dealing with the environment, human rights, the family, population and the advancement of women;
14. Notes with satisfaction the recent establishment, under the patronage of the United Nations, of the Banyan Fund Association: A World Fund for Ageing, whose main goal is to secure or broker funds for activities that would support implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing;
15. Also notes with satisfaction the leading role of the International Institute on Ageing, in Malta, in global training initiatives on ageing and its increasing involvement in other countries in the execution of projects funded by the United Nations Population Fund;
16. Urges the United Nations, Member States and non-governmental organizations to support the African Society of Gerontology in developing and implementing a regional programme of activities on ageing;
17. Encourages non-governmental organizations and the private sector to continue close collaboration with the United Nations system in the field of ageing;
18. Requests the Secretary-General, in celebrating the International Year of the Family, to draw attention to the contributions that the elderly make to the family;

19. Invites special observance of the International Day for the Elderly on 1 October 1992, the tenth anniversary of the World Assembly on Ageing;
20. Urges all organizations of the United Nations system, bilateral and multilateral development agencies to include the elderly in their development efforts, with particular focus on the mainstreaming approach;
21. Invites the United Nations Development Programme to include the elderly in the programmes of their social funds that aim, inter alia, to alleviate poverty;

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22. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item "Social development".
DRAFT RESOLUTION VI
World social station The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 1392 (XIV) of 20 November 1959, 2542 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969, 40/98 and 40/100 of 13 December 1985, 42/49 of 30 November 1987, 43/113 of 8 December 1989, 44/56 of 8 December 1989 and 45/87 of 14 December 1990,
Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolutions 1987/39, 1987/40, 1987/46 and 1987/52 of 28 May 1987, 1989/72 of 24 May 1989, 1990/28 of 24 May 1990 and 1991/4 of 30 May 1991,
Having considered the interim report of the Secretary-General on the world social situation, 30/
Bearing in mind the objective of improving the well-being of the world's population on the basis of the full and equal participation of all members of society in the process of development and the fair distribution to them of the benefits therefrom,
Conscious that each country has the sovereign right freely to adopt the economic and social system that it deems the most appropriate and that each Government has the primary responsibility of ensuring the social progress and well-being of the people,
Deeply concerned by the continued worsening of the economic and social situation in many developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, as evidenced by the significant decline in living conditions, the persistence and increase of widespread poverty in a large number of those countries and the decline in their main social and economic indicators,
Bearing in mind that certain developing countries have achieved some economic and social progress,
Convinced that the pace of development in the developing countries should be accelerated substantially in order to enable them to achieve their social objectives, especially in meeting the basic needs for food, housing, education, employment and health care and to struggle against scourges which endanger the health and well-being of their population,
30./ A/46/56-E/1991/6 and Corr.1.

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Recognizing that progress in the social and economic fields constitutes an essential priority for national policies, the United Nations and the international community, as well as a prerequisite for international development and peace,
Believing that there is a need for greater effort by the United Nations system to study and disseminate accurate and balanced data and material on the existing world social situation, particularly with regard to emerging trends and institutional structures that have an Impact on social development,
Mindful of the need to reflect objectively on the sensitivity and importance of the social problems of developing countries, particularly the least developed countries,
1. Takes note of the interim report of the Secretary-General on the world social situation; 30./
2. Motes with concern that the interim report of the Secretary-General on the world social situation did not adequately focus on the continuing deterioration of the economic and social situation in many developing countries, in particular the least developed among them, which is the prevailing problem in many of those countries;
3. Notes the increasing awareness of the importance of formulating policy measures at all levels based on the interrelationship between economic growth and social progress in the achievement of overall development;
4. Notes again with deep concern that despite efforts made at national levels, the economic and social situation in many developing countries, in particular in the least developed countries, continues to deteriorate;
5. Notes also with deep concern the substantial weakening of the overall position of the majority of developing countries in international trade and finance, which has been made worse by a downward trend in commodity prices, a serious deterioration in the terms of trade, the net transfer of resources from developing countries, protectionism and the serious debt burden, combined with high real interest rates;
6. Calls upon the international community to accord particular attention to the deteriorating economic and social situation in the developing countries, particularly in the least developed countries, and to ensure that emerging tendencies in global international relations do not impact negatively on the plight of those countries; •
7. Calls upon all Member States to promote economic development and social progress by pursuing an interrelated set of policy measures to achieve the goals and objectives established within the framework of national plans and priorities for employment, education, health, nutrition, housing facilities, crime prevention, the well-being of children, equal opportunities

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for the disabled and the ageing, full participation of youth in the development process and full integration and participation of women in development;
8. Reaffirms the commitments and policies for international development cooperation as set out in the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, 31/ adopted by the General Assembly at its eighteenth special session;
9. Reaffirms the validity of the principles and objectives of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development 32/ as well as the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future 33/ and calls for their effective implementation as a means of attaining a more equitable world social situation;
10. Endorses the request of the Economic and Social Council, in paragraph 4 of its resolution 1991/4, that the Secretary-General reorient the draft framework for the 1993 report on the world social situation so that the draft framework is in consonance with the requests set forth in paragraph 4 of Council resolution 1989/72;

11. Requests the Secretary-General, in preparing the 1993 report, to take into account the intrinsic relationship between economic growth and social development and to analyse in depth the economic problems of the developing countries and the impact of those problems on the world social situation;
12. Recommends that the draft of the 1993 report be reviewed by the Administrative Committee on Coordination to ensure that an integrated interdisciplinary focus is given and to provide a source of information for the report;
13. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Work being done within the United Nations system on improving quantitative and qualitative indicators on social conditions and the standards of living"; 34/
31/ Resolution S-18/3.
32/ Resolution 2542 (XXIV).
33/ E/CONF.80/10, chap. III.
34/ A/46/137-E/1991/40.

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14. Invites all appropriate organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General in the preparation of future reports by making available all relevant information pertaining to their respective areas of competence;
15. Decides to consider the issue of the world social situation under the item entitled "Social development" at its forty-seventh session.
DRAFT RESOLUTION VII
Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade of Disabled
Persons
The General Assembly.
Recalling all its relevant resolutions, including resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, 35/ and resolution 37/53 of 3 December 1982, in which, inter alia, it proclaimed the period 1983-1992 the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons as a long-term plan of action,
Recalling also its resolution 43/98 of 8 December 1988, in which it urged Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to translate into action at all levels, as appropriate, the priorities for global activities and programmes during the second half of the Decade, such as those set forth in the annex to the resolution,
Recalling further the request to the Secretary-General made in its resolution 45/91 of 14 December 1990, to shift the focus of the United Nations programme on disability from awareness-raising to action, with the aim of achieving a society for all by the year 2010, and considering that appropriate means will be required to achieve this,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1991/9 of 30 May 1991, in which the Council invited Member States to review their policies and programmes with the aim of designing national annual priorities until the end of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons in 1992 and concrete long-term strategies to ensure the full implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons beyond the Decade,
Welcoming the progress made by the ad hoc open-ended working group established by the Commission for Social Development to elaborate standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities,
35/ A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation 1 (IV).

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Noting with concern the deteriorating economic and social situation of many developing countries, which adversely affect vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities,
Aware of the need for new and concerted efforts, more vigorous and broader action, and measures at all levels to fulfil the objectives of the Decade,
Expressing its appreciation for the efforts of a number of Member States during the Decade to improve the conditions and well-being of persons with disabilities and the willingness of those States to involve persons with disabilities and their organization in all matters of concern to them,
Noting with appreciation the generous support to the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons provided by some Governments through voluntary contributions,
Aware of the important role national committees are playing in furthering the implementation of the World Programme of Action,
Noting with appreciation the convening of the International Meeting on Roles and Functions of National Coordinating Committees on Disability in Developing Countries at Beijing from 5 to 11 November 1990, and the adoption of the Guidelines for the Establishment and Development of National Coordinating Committees on Disability,
Encouraged by the emergence of organizations of persons with disabilities in all regions and their positive influence on the image and condition of persons with disabilities,
Noting the important contributions being made by other non-governmental organizations in improving the status of persons with disabilities,
Recognizing the World Congress of Rehabilitation International, the World Congress of Disabled Peoples' International, the World Congress Blind Union, Independence '92, and other such important events to be held in 1992 as important activities helping both to mark the end of the Decade and to launch future efforts for the disabled,
Commending the work done by the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs as the focal point in the United Nations system for issues of disabilities,
Commending the work being carried out by the United Nations Statistical Office and welcoming its publication of the Disability Statistics Compendium, 36/
36/ United Nations publication, Sales No. 90.XVII.17.

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Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, 37/
Desirous of encouraging the continued and practical implementation of the World Programme of Action beyond the Decade,
1. Reiterates the need to achieve the objectives set out in the agenda
for action until the end of the United Nations Decade for Disabled Persons and
beyond, 38/ and the preliminary outline of a long-term strategy to the
year 2000 and beyond: a society for all, 39/ contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the feasibility study on alternative ways to mark the end of the Decade; 40/
2. Affirms that, in implementing the agenda for action, special attention should be given to persons with disabilities in developing countries;
3. Invites Member States, all organizations of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to review and evaluate, with the active participation of persons with disabilities, their current disability-related policies, programmes and available services with a view to identifying areas in which major progress has been achieved, as well as obstacles encountered in the prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities;
4. Also invites all organizations of the United Nations system to incorporate the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities in their programmes and activities both as active agents and beneficiaries;
5. Stresses the need, within existing resources, for priority to be given to action-oriented programmes that will renew international consensus on and elicit a sustained political commitment by Member States to the implementation of the World Programme of Action beyond the Decade and will ensure the continued improvement of the situation of persons with disabilities;
6. Endorses the Beijing Guidelines for the Establishment and Development of National Coordinating Committees on Disability contained in annex I of document A/C.3/46/4;

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7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Beijing Guidelines are disseminated as widely as possible and to assist Member States in undertaking follow-up measures, especially training seminars, to promote their implementation;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to finalize during the next year the review of the translation into the official languages of the United Nations of the World Programme of Action, in particular the use of the terms "impairment", "disability", "handicap" and "disabled person";
9. Endorses the Guidelines for the development of organizations of disabled persons, 41/ and encourages Governments to consider these guidelines in their national programmes;
10. Calls upon Governments and bodies of the United Nations system to participate actively in the elaboration of the standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities and in this regard to pay attention to the particular needs of women with disabilities;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to take due note of the recommendations of the expert group meetings held at Stockholm in 1987 42/ and at Jarvenpaa, Finland, in 1990 that organizations of persons with disabilities be fully represented in all United Nations activities related to the Decade and beyond and, in particular, expert group meetings;
12. Welcomes the announcement by the Government of Canada to host a United Nations expert group meeting to be held in conjunction with Indepencence '92 at Vancouver, British Columbia, in April 1992 with the objective of drawing up a long-term strategy to implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the year 2000 and beyond, with a particular focus on recommending practical and action-oriented measures that could be implemented in such fields as legislation and governing mechanisms, community-based rehabilitation, independent living, human rights aspects and economic independence and the creation of an effective international mechanism to coordinate and monitor activities from 1992 and beyond;

13. Welcomes also the offer of the Government of the United States of America to host an international conference on disability, entitled "Setting National Disability Policies - An Agenda for Action";
14. Decides to devote four of its plenary meetings at its forty-seventh session to mark, at the appropriate global level, the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons;
41/ A/C.3/46/4, annex II.
42/ See CSDHA/DDP/GME/7 of 1 September 1987.

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15. Emphasizes the need to rationalize the work of and strengthen the Disabled Persons Unit of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, in order to enable it to carry out its role in the implementation, within existing resources, of the objectives of the Decade in an effective and efficient manner;
16. Reiterates its appeal to Governments for further voluntary contributions to enable the Disabled Persons Unit to strengthen its focal point function on issues related to disabilities;
17. Reaffirms that the resources of the Voluntary Fund should be used to support catalytic and innovative activities in order to implement further the objectives of the World Programme of Action within the framework of the Decade and beyond, with priority given, as appropriate, to programmes and projects of the least developed countries;
18. Invites Governments and non-governmental organizations to continue their contributions to the Voluntary Fund, and calls upon Governments and non-governmental organizations that have not yet done so to consider contributing to the Voluntary Fund so as to enable it to respond effectively to the growing demand for assistance;
19. Requests the Economic and Social Council at its next session to give its views on the continuation of the Voluntary Fund, with new terms of references in response to General Assembly resolution 45/91 and to submit its recommendations to the Assembly at its forty-seventh session;
20. Invites Member States to submit updated national reports to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the agenda for action;
21. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Social development".
* * *
29. The Third Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft decision:
Documents relating to social development
The General Assembly takes not of the reports of the Secretary-General on:
(a) Policies and programmes involving youth; 43/ 43/ A/46/360.

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(b) Progress made in the preparations for the International Year of the Family; 44/
(c) Implementation of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future. 45./
44/ A/46/362 and Corr.1. 45/ A/46/414.