UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations A/56/572
General Assembly Distr.: General
20 November 2001
Original: English
01-65049 (E) 271101
*0165049*
Fifty-sixth session
Agenda item 108
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. Juraj Priputen (Slovakia)
I. Introduction
1. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 19 September 2001, the General Assembly, on
the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of
its fifty-sixth 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 held a substantive debate on the item jointly with items
27 and 109 at its 3rd to 7th meetings, from 8 to 11 October 2001, and took up
proposals relating to the item at its 11th, 15th, 19th, 21st and 29th meetings, on 16,
18, 23 and 24 October and 1 November. An account of the Committee’s discussion
is contained in the relevant summary records (A/C.3/56/SR.3-7, 11, 15, 19, 21
and 29).
3. For its consideration of the item, the Committee had before it the following
documents:
(a) Relevant sections of the report of the Economic and Social Council for
2001 (A/56/3);1
(b) Report of the Secretary-General on cooperatives in social development
(A/56/73-E/2001/68 and Add.1);
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons (A/56/169 and Corr.1);
__________________
1 To be issued in Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3
(A/56/3/Rev.1).

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(d) Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World
Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond (A/56/180);
(e) Report of the Secretary-General on support for volunteering (A/56/288);
(f) Note by the Secretary-General (A/56/57-E/2001/5) transmitting the
report on the follow-up to the International Year of the Family (E/CN.5/2001/4);
(g) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the draft proposal and plan
for a United Nations literacy decade (A/56/114-E/2001/93 and Add.1);
(h) Letter dated 4 October 2001 from the Permanent Representative of
Senegal to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General transmitting
documents adopted by the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, held at
Dakar from 6 to 10 August 2001 (A/C.3/56/2);
(i) Extract from the report on the World Social Situation, 2001
(E/2001/104).
4. At the 3rd meeting, on 8 October, the Director for Social Policy and
Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs made an
introductory statement (see A/C.3/56/SR.3).
II. Consideration of proposals
A. Draft resolution A/C.3/56/L.2 and amendments contained in
document A/C.3/56/L.7
5. By its resolution 2001/6 of 24 July 2001, the Economic and Social Council
recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution entitled
“Preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year
of the Family”. The draft resolution was reproduced in document A/C.3/56/L.2.
6. At the 11th meeting, on 16 October, the representative of Benin, on behalf of
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,
Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Central African
Republic, the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-
Bissau, Haiti, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia,
Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, the Niger, Nigeria, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, South Africa,
the Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo,
Trinidad and Tobago, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe,
introduced amendments (A/C.3/56/L.7) to draft resolution A/C.3/56/L.2, by which:
(a) After the third preambular paragraph, the following preambular
paragraphs would be inserted:
“Further recognizing that the family-related provisions of the outcomes
of the world conferences of the 1990s 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,

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“Noting with concern the devastating effects of difficult social and
economic conditions, armed conflicts, wars, natural disasters and infectious
diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria and of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on
family life and stability,
“Emphasizing that equality between women and men and respect for the
human rights of all family members is essential to family well-being and to
society at large”;
(b) After operative paragraph 2, the following operative paragraph would be
inserted:
“Encourages the regional commissions, within their respective mandates
and resources, to participate in the preparatory process of the tenth anniversary
of the International Year of the Family and to play an active role in facilitating
regional cooperation in this regard”;
(c) After operative paragraph 4, the following operative paragraph would be
inserted:
“Requests the Secretary-General, in order to facilitate contributions by
Governments, to include the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities,
on an annual basis, among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the
United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities”;
(d) In operative paragraph 5, after the words “Economic and Social
Council”, the words “on the preparation for the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family at all levels” would be replaced by the words “on
the implementation of the present resolution, including a description of the state of
preparation for the observance of the International Year of the Family at all levels”.
7. At the same meeting, the representative of Benin corrected the second
preambular paragraph of the amendments (see para. 6 (a) above) by deleting the
word “wars” and the words “and stability”.
8. Subsequently, Argentina, Belarus, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Guinea, Malawi, Morocco, Nicaragua, the Russian Federation, Sierra
Leone and Suriname joined in sponsoring the amendments.
9. At its 15th meeting, on 18 October, the Committee adopted the amendments
contained in document A/C.3/56/L.7, as orally corrected.
10. At same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.3/56/L.2, as
amended, without a vote (see para. 24, draft resolution I).
B. Draft resolution A/C.3/56/L.8 and Rev.1
11. At the 11th meeting, on 16 October, the representative of Mongolia, on behalf
of Mongolia, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines and Thailand, introduced a draft
resolution entitled “Cooperatives in social development” (A/C.3/56/L.8), which
read:
“The General Assembly,
“Recalling its resolutions 47/90 of 16 December 1992, 49/155 of 23
December 1994, 51/58 of 12 December 1996 and 54/123 of 17 December

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1999, in which it requested the Secretary-General to seek views from
Governments on the draft guidelines aimed at creating a supportive
environment for the development of cooperatives and to provide, if necessary,
a revised version for adoption,
“Recognizing that cooperatives, in their various forms, are becoming a
major factor of economic and social development by promoting the fullest
possible participation in the development process of all people, including
women, youth, older persons and people with disabilities,
“Recognizing also the important contribution and potential of all forms of
cooperatives to the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development,
held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, the Fourth World Conference on
Women, held at Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995, the second United
Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), held at Istanbul,
Turkey, from 3 to 14 June 1996, and the World Food Summit, held at Rome
from 13 to 17 November 1996, including their five-year reviews,
“1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General
on cooperatives in social development;
“2. Approves the revised draft guidelines aimed at creating a supportive
environment for the development of cooperatives as a set of general principles
to be considered by Member States in developing or revising their national
policies on cooperatives;
“3. Invites Governments to keep under review, as appropriate, the legal,
judicial and administrative provisions governing the activities of cooperatives
with a view to ensuring a supportive environment for them to be on an equal
footing with other forms of enterprise and protecting and advancing the
potential of cooperatives to help their members achieve individual goals as
well as to contribute to society’s broader aspirations;
“4. Urges Governments, relevant international organizations and
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 the World Food Summit, and their five-year
reviews, 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;
“(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,

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developing an effective partnership between Governments and the cooperative
movement;
“5. Invites Governments, in collaboration with the cooperative
movement, to develop programmes to promote and strengthen professional
cooperative management and to create or improve statistical databases on the
development of cooperatives and on their contribution to national economies;
“6. Invites Governments, relevant international organizations,
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, 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 and promote an exchange of experience and best
practices, through, inter alia, the organization of conferences, workshops and
seminars at the national, subregional and regional levels;
“8. Also requests the Secretary-General to bring the above-mentioned
revised draft guidelines to the attention of all Member States and to prepare, in
consultation with Member States and relevant United Nations and other
international organizations, a report on the implementation of the present
resolution with an emphasis on the role of cooperatives in poverty reduction,
and to submit it, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General
Assembly at its fifty-eighth session.”
12. At its 21st meeting, on 24 October, the Committee had before it a revised draft
resolution entitled “Cooperatives in social development” (A/C.3/56/L.8/Rev.1),
submitted by the sponsors of draft resolution A/C.3/56/L.8 and Burkina Faso, the
Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, the Islamic
Republic of Iran, Myanmar, Nicaragua, and the Sudan. Subsequently, Guatemala,
Haiti, Kenya, Mali, the Niger and Sierra Leone joined in sponsoring the draft
resolution.
13. At the same meeting the Committee adopted draft resolution
A/C.3/56/L.8/Rev.1 without a vote (see para. 24, draft resolution II).
C. Draft resolution A/C.3/56/L.9
14. At the 11th meeting, on 16 October, the representative of the Philippines, on
behalf of Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia,
Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark,
Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia,
Morocco, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, the Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Thailand,
Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland and the United States of America, introduced a draft resolution
entitled “Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled

A/56/572
Persons: towards a society for all in the twenty-first century” (A/C.3/56/L.9).
Subsequently, Armenia, Andorra, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Burundi, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, the Congo, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Eritrea, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, Jamaica, Latvia,
Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nicaragua,
Norway, Peru, the Republic of Moldova, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San
Marino, South Africa, the Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and Zimbabwe joined in sponsoring the draft
resolution.
15. In introducing the draft resolution, the representative of the Philippines orally
corrected operative paragraph 3, by replacing the words “for maintaining” by the
words “in monitoring”.
16. At its 15th meeting, on 18 October, the Committee adopted draft resolution
A/C.3/56/L.9, as orally corrected, without a vote (see para. 24, draft resolution III).
D. Draft resolution A/C.3/56/L.10 and Rev.1
17. At the 11th meeting, on 16 October, the representative of Mongolia, on behalf
of Bangladesh, Benin, China, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, the Dominican Republic,
El Salvador, Israel, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines,
the Republic of Korea, Senegal, the Russian Federation, the Sudan, Suriname,
Thailand, Turkey and the United States of America, subsequently joined by Burundi,
Cameroon, the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, the
Gambia, Guinea, Guyana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and
the United Republic of Tanzania, introduced a draft resolution entitled “United
Nations Literacy Decade: education for all” (A/C.3/56/L.10), which read:
“The General Assembly,
“Recalling that in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the
Convention on the Rights of the Child the right of every individual to
education is recognized as inalienable,
“Recalling also its resolutions 42/104 of 7 December 1987, by which it
proclaimed 1990 as International Literacy Year, and 54/122 of 17 December
1999, by which it requested the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the
Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, and Member States and with other relevant organizations and
bodies, to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a proposal
for a United Nations literacy decade, with a plan of action and possible time
frame for such a decade,
“Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8
September 2000 in which Member States resolved to ensure that, by the year
2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full
course of primary schooling and that girls and boys will have equal access to
all levels of education, which requires a renewed commitment to promote
literacy for all,

A/56/572
“Recalling also the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and
the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development and
the outcome document of the twenty-fourth special session of the General
Assembly, entitled ‘World Summit for Social Development and beyond:
achieving social development for all in a globalizing world’,
“Recalling further its resolution 55/94 of 4 December 2000, entitled
‘United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and public
information activities in the field of human rights’,
“Reaffirming its resolution 49/184 of 23 December 1994, in which it
appealed to all Governments to step up their efforts to eradicate illiteracy and
to direct education towards the full development of the human personality and
to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
“Convinced that literacy is the key to learning to learn and one of the
most basic learning needs of children, young people and adults and that a
meaningful use of literacy for all represents quality education and lifelong
learning for all,
“Recognizing that illiteracy is intertwined with poverty and social
exclusion, while literacy is intertwined with empowerment, democracy and
social development,
“Welcoming the Dakar Framework for Action, adopted at the World
Education Forum in April 2000, in which commitments were made to achieve
a 50 per cent improvement in levels of adult literacy by 2015 and to improve
all aspects of quality education, especially in literacy and essential life skills,
“Acknowledging the activities undertaken at national and regional levels
for the Education for All 2000 assessment of progress towards achieving the
goals of education for all, and stressing further the need to redouble efforts in
order to meet the basic needs of people of all age groups, particularly girls and
women,
“Recognizing that, despite the significant progress in basic education,
especially the increase in primary school enrolment coupled with a growing
emphasis on the quality of education, major problems, both emerging and
continuing, still persist, which require even more forceful and concerted action
at the national and international levels so as to achieve the goal of education
for all,
“Deeply concerned about the persistence of the gender gap in education,
which is reflected by the fact that nearly two thirds of the world’s adult
illiterates are women,
“Urging Member States, in close partnership with international
organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, to promote the right
to education for all and to create conditions for all for learning throughout life,
“1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General
and of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, entitled ‘Draft proposal and plan for a United Nations
literacy decade’;

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“2. Proclaims the ten-year period beginning on 1 January 2002 the
United Nations Literacy Decade;
“3. Welcomes the vision for a United Nations Literacy Decade, as
contained in the report of the Secretary-General and of the Director-General of
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and
invites Governments and the relevant international organizations to submit
their comments and proposals with a view to developing a well-targeted and
action-oriented plan for the Decade;
“4. Invites the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-
General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, to develop an international plan of action for the Decade, taking
into account the views expressed by Governments and the relevant
international organizations, as requested in paragraph 3 of the present
resolution, and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh
session;
“5. Appeals to all Governments to reinforce political will and develop
more inclusive policy-making environments in which active and wide-ranging
participation in literacy promotion can take place, in particular to enhance
partnerships, commit resources and devise innovative strategies for reaching
the poorest and most marginalized groups, and for seeking alternative school
and non-school approaches to learning with a view to achieving the goals of
the United Nations Literacy Decade;
“6. Also appeals to all Governments to redouble their efforts to achieve
their own goals of education for all by setting firm targets and timetables,
where possible, including gender-specific education targets and programmes to
combat the illiteracy of women and girls, and, by working in active partnership
with communities, associations, the media and development agencies, to reach
those targets;
“7. Urges all Governments to take the lead in the coordination of the
Decade activities at the national level, bringing all relevant national actors
together in sustained dialogue in policy formulation, implementation and
evaluation of literacy efforts;
“8. Reaffirms that literacy for all is at the heart of basic education for
all and that creating literate environments and societies is essential for
achieving the goals of eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing
population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable
development, peace and democracy;
“9. Appeals to all Governments and to economic and financial
organizations and institutions, both national and international, to lend greater
financial and material support to the efforts to increase literacy and achieve
education for all goals, through, inter alia, the 20/20 initiative, as appropriate;
“10. Invites Member States, the specialized agencies and other
organizations of the United Nations system as well as relevant
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify further
their efforts to implement effectively the World Declaration on Education for
All, the Dakar Framework for Action and the relevant commitments and

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recommendations to promote literacy made in recent major United Nations
conferences and at their five-year reviews with a view to better coordinating
their activities and increasing their contribution to development within the
framework of the United Nations Literacy Decade;
“11. Requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization to take the lead role in coordinating and implementing at the
international level the activities envisaged within the framework of the United
Nations Literacy Decade;
“12. Requests the Secretary-General to consider, in cooperation with the
Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, establishing a voluntary fund for the Decade, with special
provision for the support of literacy efforts of developing countries;
“13. Also requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution
to the attention of all Member States as well as the relevant intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations;
“14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh
session the question entitled ‘The United Nations Literacy Decade’.”
18. At its 21st meeting, on 24 October, the Committee had before it a revised draft
resolution entitled “United Nations Literacy Decade: education for all”
(A/C.3/56/L.10/Rev.1), submitted by the sponsors of draft resolution A/C.3/56/L.10
and Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso,
Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia,
Monaco, Myanmar, Namibia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Portugal, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal and Sri Lanka. Subsequently, Belarus, Belize,
Bolivia, Cambodia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Fiji, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Latvia,
Malta, Mauritania, the Niger, Sierra Leone, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Togo, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zambia joined in sponsoring the draft
resolution.
19. At the same meeting, the representative of Mongolia, on behalf of the
sponsors, orally revised the text as follows:
(a) In operative paragraph 4, the words “education for all” between the
words “developing national” and the word “plans” were deleted;
(b) In operative paragraph 8, the words “and those of the United Nations
Literacy Decade” were inserted after the words “and achieve the goals of education
for all”;
(c) In operative paragraph 9, the words “in a manner that is complementary
to and coordinated with the ongoing education for all process” were added at the end
of the paragraph.
20. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution
A/C.3/56/L.10/Rev.1, as orally revised, without a vote (see para. 24, draft resolution
IV).

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E. Draft resolution A/C.3/56/L.12/Rev.1
21. At the 19th meeting, on 23 October, the representative of Portugal, on behalf
of Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, the
Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova,
Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand,
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America,
Uruguay and Venezuela, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Policies and
programmes involving youth” (A/C.3/56/L.12/Rev.1). Subsequently, Armenia,
Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte
d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji, the
Gambia, Georgia, Guinea, Haiti, Israel, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali,
Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, the Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Solomon
Islands, Swaziland, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago joined in sponsoring the
draft resolution.
22. In introducing the draft resolution, the representative of Portugal orally revised
it, by which, in operative paragraph 10, the words “and debate strategies related to
them” were revised to read “and debate strategies for youth empowerment”, after
which a footnote, reading “see A/C.3/56/2, concerning the fourth session of the
World Youth Forum”, was added.
23. At its 21st meeting, on 24 October, the Committee adopted draft resolution
A/C.3/56/L.12/Rev.1, as orally corrected, without a vote (see para. 24, draft
resolution V).
III. Recommendations of the Third Committee
24. The Third Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of
the following draft resolutions:
Draft resolution I
Preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 47/237 of 20 September
1993, 50/142 of 21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997 and 54/124 of 17
December 1999 concerning the proclamation, preparations for and observance of the
International Year of the Family,
Recognizing that the preparation for and observance of the tenth anniversary of
the International Year of the Family provides a useful opportunity for drawing
further attention to the objectives of the Year for increasing cooperation at all levels
on family issues and for undertaking concerted actions to strengthen family-centred

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policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to
development,
Also recognizing that the follow-up to the International Year of the Family is
an integral part of the agenda and of the multi-year programme of work of the
Commission for Social Development until 2004,
Further recognizing that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the
world conferences of the 1990s 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,
Noting with concern the devastating effects of difficult social and economic
conditions, armed conflicts, natural disasters and infectious diseases such as
tuberculosis and malaria and of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on family life,
Emphasizing that equality between women and men and respect for the human
rights of all family members is essential to family well-being and to society at large,
Noting the active role of the United Nations in enhancing international
cooperation in family-related issues, particularly in the area of research and
information,
Emphasizing that it is necessary to intensify and improve coordination of the
activities of the United Nations system on family-related issues so as to contribute
fully to the effective preparation for and celebration of the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family,
1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the
International Year of the Family and the preparations for the tenth anniversary of the
International Year of the Family and the recommendations contained therein;2
2. Urges Governments to view 2004 as a target year by which concrete
achievements should be made to identify and elaborate issues of direct concern to
families and also to set up and strengthen, where appropriate, mechanisms to plan
and coordinate activities of governmental bodies and non-governmental
organizations;
3. Encourages the regional commissions, within their respective mandates
and resources, to participate in the preparatory process of the tenth anniversary of
the International Year of the Family and to play an active role in facilitating regional
cooperation in this regard;
4. Requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to review
annually the preparations for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the
Family as part of its agenda and of its multi-year programme of work until 2004;
5. Invites Member States to consider organizing activities in preparation for
the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family at the
national level;
6. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to facilitate contributions by
Governments, to include the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities, on an
__________________
2 E/CN.5/2001/4.

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annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United
Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its
fifty-seventh session through the Commission for Social Development and the
Economic and Social Council on the implementation of the present resolution,
including a description of the state of preparation for the observance of the
International Year of the Family at all levels.
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 and 54/123 of 17 December 1999, in which it
requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of Governments on the draft
guidelines aimed at creating a supportive environment for the development of
cooperatives3 and to provide, if necessary, a revised version for adoption,
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 people 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, held at
Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women,
held at Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995, and the second United Nations
Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), held at Istanbul, Turkey, from 3 to
14 June 1996, and their five-year reviews, as well as the World Food Summit, held
in Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996,
1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperatives in
social development;4
2. Draws the attention of Member States to the draft guidelines5 aimed at
creating a supportive environment for the development of cooperatives, to be
considered by them in developing or revising their national policies on cooperatives;
3. Encourages Governments to keep under review, as appropriate, the legal
and administrative provisions governing the activities of cooperatives, with a view
to ensuring a supportive environment for them and to protecting and advancing the
potential of cooperatives to help them achieve their goals;
4. Urges Governments, relevant international organizations and 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 and the second United
__________________
3 A/54/57, annex.
4 A/56/73 and Add.1-E/2001/68 and Add.1.
5 A/56/73-E/2001/68, annex.

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Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and their five-year reviews,
as well as the World Food 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;
(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;
5. Invites Governments, in collaboration with the cooperative movement, to
develop programmes to promote and strengthen the education of members, the
elected leadership and professional cooperative management, where appropriate, and
to create or improve statistical databases on the development of cooperatives and on
their contribution to national economies;
6. Also invites Governments, relevant international organizations,
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 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 a report on the
implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth
session.
Draft resolution III
Implementation of the World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons: towards a society for all in
the twenty-first century
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 on all Forms of Discrimination against
Women6 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,7
__________________
6 Resolution 34/180, annex.
7 Resolution 44/25, annex.

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Recalling also its resolutions 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted
the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,8 48/96 of 20
December 1993, by which it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, 49/153 of 23 December 1994, 50/144 of
21 December 1995, 52/82 of 12 December 1997 and 54/121 of 17 December 1999,
Recalling further all relevant resolutions on the equalization of opportunities
and human rights of persons with disabilities of the General Assembly, the
Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions,
Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,9 adopted on
8 September 2000 by the heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit
of the United Nations, and recognizing the need to promote and protect all human
rights and fundamental freedoms of people with disabilities,
Noting with appreciation the actions of Governments to implement relevant
sections of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities and of relevant resolutions that give special attention to 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,
Reaffirming the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and
summits and their respective follow-up reviews,
Noting with appreciation the assessment by the Secretary-General of the
implementation of the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits
to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities, ensuring their full
participation and equality, as well as the measures undertaken by the United Nations
system aimed at preventing disabling conditions,10
Noting the invitation made to the General Assembly by the World Conference
against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at
Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001, to consider elaborating
an integral and comprehensive international convention to protect and promote the
rights and dignity of disabled people, including, in particular, provisions that
address the discriminatory practices and treatment affecting them,
Acknowledging the important role of non-governmental organizations in the
promotion and protection of the human rights of 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 valuable work of United Nations Voluntary Fund
on Disability in supporting the building of national capacities to promote the
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in
order to create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods by, for and with persons
with disabilities,
__________________
8 A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV).
9 See resolution 55/2.
10 See A/56/169, paras. 25 and 26.

A/56/572
Also noting with appreciation the important contributions of subregional,
regional and international seminars and conferences related 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
in economic, social, cultural and political life, on the basis of equality, to achieve a
society for all,
Welcoming initiatives to hold international conferences relating to persons with
disabilities, including the Sixth World Assembly of Disabled Peoples’ International,
to be held in Japan in 2002,
Concerned that improvement of disability awareness and sensitivity to
disability issues and respect for the human rights of disabled persons have not been
significant enough to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities
worldwide,
Expressing grave concern that situations of armed conflict continue to have
especially devastating consequences for the human rights of persons with
disabilities,
Recognizing the importance of timely and reliable data on disability sensitive
topics, programme planning and evaluation and the need for further development of
practical statistical methodology for the collection and compilation of data on
populations with disabilities,
Reiterating that technology, in particular information and communication
technology, provides new possibilities for improving accessibility and employment
for persons with disabilities and for facilitating their full and effective participation
and equality, and welcoming the initiatives of the United Nations in promoting
information and communication technology as a means of achieving the universal
goal of a society for all,
1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the
implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;11
2. Welcomes the many initiatives and actions of Governments and relevant
United Nations bodies and organizations, including relevant Bretton Woods
institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations to enhance the rights of
persons with disabilities and the further equalization of opportunities by, for and
with persons with disabilities in all sectors of society;
3. Notes with appreciation the valuable work undertaken by the Special
Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development in monitoring
the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for
Persons with Disabilities under his third mandate for the period 2000-2002, and also
notes with appreciation the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights in supporting the work of the Special Rapporteur;
4. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations and the private sector, as appropriate, to continue to take concrete
measures to promote the implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions and
__________________
11 A/56/169 and Corr.1.

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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 by
focusing on accessibility, health, education, social services, including training and
rehabilitation, safety nets, employment and sustainable livelihood, in the design and
implementation of strategies, policies and programmes to promote a more inclusive
society;
5. Calls upon Governments to undertake 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;
6. Encourages Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations to continue to take practical actions, including public information
campaigns, by, for and with persons with disabilities, with a view to increasing
awareness of and sensitivity to disability issues, combating and overcoming
discrimination against persons with disabilities and furthering their full and effective
participation in society;
7. Encourages Governments to continue their support to non-governmental
organizations contributing to the fulfilment of the implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;
8. Also encourages Governments to involve persons with disabilities in the
formulation of strategies and plans aimed at eradicating poverty, promoting
education and enhancing employment;
9. Urges relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system,
including relevant human rights treaty bodies and the regional commissions, as well
as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, to
continue to work closely with the programme on disability of the Division for Social
Policy and Development of the Secretariat in the promotion of the rights of persons
with disabilities, including activities at the field level, by sharing experiences,
findings and recommendations on persons with disabilities;
10. Urges Governments to cooperate with the Statistics Division of the
Secretariat in the continued 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, including
the compilation and dissemination of data on disabled persons, as well as the
development of methods for data collection and disability statistics, as appropriate;
11. Urges Governments, intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental
organizations to provide special protection to girls and women with
disabilities, elderly people with disabilities and persons with developmental and
psychiatric disabilities, with special emphasis on integrating them into society and
protecting and promoting their human rights;
12. Also urges Governments, in collaboration with the United Nations
system, to give special attention to the rights, needs and well-being of children with
disabilities and their families in the development of policies and programmes,

A/56/572
including the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities;
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 on the Equalization of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities, including the work of the Special Rapporteur of the
Commission for Social Development, and to support activities to build national
capacities, with emphasis on priorities for action identified in the current resolution;
14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to support initiatives of
relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as those of
regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions,
for the promotion of all humans rights of, and non-discrimination against, persons
with disabilities and the further implementation of the World Programme of Action
as well as their 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. Welcomes the preparations proposed by the Secretary-General in his
current report for the fourth quinquennial review and appraisal of the World
Programme of Action in 2002,11 including the proposed framework for that review,
and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, at its fiftyeighth
session, through the Commission on Social Development and the Economic
and Social Council, a report on the findings and recommendations based on the
review and appraisal, including a report on the implementation of the present
resolution.
Draft resolution IV
United Nations Literacy Decade: education for all
The General Assembly,
Recalling that in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,12 the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights13 and the
Convention on the Rights of the Child14 the right of every individual to education is
recognized as inalienable,
Recalling also its resolutions 42/104 of 7 December 1987, by which it
proclaimed 1990 as International Literacy Year, and 54/122 of 17 December 1999,
in which it requested the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-
General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
and Member States and with other relevant organizations and bodies, to submit to
the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a proposal for a United Nations
__________________
12 Resolution 217 A (III).
13 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
14 Resolution 44/25, annex.

A/56/572
literacy decade, with a draft plan of action and possible time frame for such a
decade, on the basis of the outcome of the World Education Forum and the special
session of the General Assembly for the five-year review of the World Summit for
Social Development,
Reaffirming its resolution 49/184 of 23 December 1994, by which it
proclaimed the ten-year period beginning on 1 January 1995 the United Nations
Decade for Human Rights Education and appealed to all Governments to intensify
their efforts to eradicate illiteracy and to direct education towards the full
development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for all
human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/29 on the right to
education,15
Also recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September
200016 in which Member States resolved to ensure that, by the year 2015, children
everywhere, boys and girls alike, would be able to complete a full course of primary
schooling and that girls and boys would have equal access to all levels of education,
which requires a renewed commitment to promote literacy for all,
Further recalling the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development17 and
the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development18 and the
outcome document of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,
entitled “World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social
development for all in a globalizing world”,19
Convinced that literacy is crucial to the acquisition, by every child, youth and
adult, of essential life skills that enable them to address the challenges they can face
in life, and represents an essential step in basic education, which is an indispensable
means for effective participation in the societies and economies of the twenty-first
century,
Affirming that the realization of the right to education, especially for girls,
contributes to the eradication of poverty,
Acknowledging the activities undertaken at the national and regional levels for
the Education for All 2000 assessment of progress towards achieving the goals of
education for all, and stressing further the need to redouble efforts in order to meet
the basic needs of people of all age groups, particularly girls and women,
Recognizing that, despite the significant progress in basic education, especially
the increase in primary school enrolment coupled with a growing emphasis on the
quality of education, major problems, both emerging and continuing, still persist,
which require even more forceful and concerted action at the national and
international levels so as to achieve the goal of education for all,
__________________
15 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23),
chap. II, sect. A.
16 Resolution 55/2.
17 Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I.
18 Ibid., annex II.
19 See resolution S-24/2, annex.

A/56/572
Deeply concerned about the persistence of the gender gap in education, which
is reflected by the fact that nearly two thirds of the world’s adult illiterates are
women,
Urging Member States, in close partnership with international organizations, as
well as non-governmental organizations, to promote the right to education for all
and to create conditions for all for learning throughout life,
1. Takes note of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, entitled “Draft proposal and plan
for a United Nations literacy decade”;20
2. Proclaims the ten-year period beginning on 1 January 2003 the United
Nations Literacy Decade;
3. Reaffirms the Dakar Framework for Action, Education for All, adopted at
the World Education Forum, held at Dakar from 26 to 28 April 2000,21 in which
commitments were made to achieve a 50 per cent improvement in levels of adult
literacy by 2015, and to improve the quality of education;
4. Appeals to all Governments to redouble their efforts to achieve their own
goals of education for all by developing national plans in accordance with the Dakar
Framework, setting firm targets and timetables, including gender-specific education
targets and programmes, to eliminate gender disparities at all levels of education, to
combat the illiteracy of women and girls and to ensure that girls and women have
full and equal access to education, and by working in active partnership with
communities, associations, the media and development agencies to reach those
targets;
5. Also appeals to all Governments to reinforce political will and develop
more inclusive policy-making environments and devise innovative strategies for
reaching the poorest and most marginalized groups, and for seeking alternative
formal and non-formal approaches to learning with a view to achieving the goals of
the United Nations Literacy Decade;
6. Urges all Governments to take the lead in the coordination of the Decade
activities at the national level, bringing all relevant national actors together in
sustained dialogue in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation of literacy
efforts;
7. Reaffirms that literacy for all is at the heart of basic education for all and
that creating literate environments and societies is essential for achieving the goals
of eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth,
achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and
democracy;
8. Appeals to all Governments and to economic and financial organizations
and institutions, both national and international, to lend greater financial and
material support to the efforts to increase literacy and achieve the goals of education
for all and those of the United Nations Literacy Decade through, inter alia, the 20/20
initiative, as appropriate;
__________________
20 A/56/114 and Add.1-E/2001/93 and Add.1.
21 See Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, 26-28 April 2000, United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris, 2000.

A/56/572
9. Invites Member States, the specialized agencies and other organizations
of the United Nations system as well as relevant intergovernmental and nongovernmental
organizations to intensify further their efforts to implement effectively
the World Declaration on Education for All,22 the Dakar Framework for Action and
the relevant commitments and recommendations to promote literacy made at recent
major United Nations conferences and at their five-year reviews with a view to
better coordinating their activities and increasing their contribution to development
within the framework of the United Nations Literacy Decade in a manner that is
complementary to and coordinated with the ongoing education for all process;
10. Decides that United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization should take a coordinating role in stimulating and catalysing the
activities at the international level within the framework of the United Nations
Literacy Decade;
11. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General
of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to seek and
take into account comments and proposals from Governments and the relevant
international organizations on the draft plan for the United Nations Literacy Decade
in order to develop and finalize a well targeted and action-oriented plan of action to
be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session;
12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session
the question entitled “United Nations Literacy Decade”.
Draft resolution V
Policies and programmes involving youth
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 50/81 of 14 December 1995, by which it adopted the
World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, annexed
thereto, as an integral part of that resolution,
Recalling also its resolutions 32/135 of 16 December 1977 and 36/17 of
9 November 1981, by which it adopted guidelines for the improvement of the
channels of communication between the United Nations and youth and youth
organizations, and 40/14 of 18 November 1985, entitled “International Youth Year:
Participation, Development, Peace”, by which it endorsed the guidelines for further
planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth as contained in the report of the
Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year on its fourth session, held at
Vienna from 25 March to 3 April 1985,23
Recalling its resolution 54/120 of 17 December 1999, in which it took note
with appreciation of the Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies and Programmes,
adopted at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in 1998,24
__________________
22 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.
23 A/40/256, annex.
24 See WCMRY/1998/28, chap. I, resolution 1.

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Welcoming the adoption of the Dakar Framework for Action, Education for All
at the World Education Forum, held at Dakar from 26 to 28 April 2000,25
Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the heads of
State and Government,26 and recognizing that the Declaration includes important
goals and targets pertaining to youth,
Also recalling and reaffirming the commitments made at the major United
Nations conferences and summits since 1990 and their follow-up processes,
Noting in particular that, in the World Programme of Action for Youth to the
Year 2000 and Beyond, regional and interregional conferences of ministers
responsible for youth affairs in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the
Caribbean and Western Asia were invited to intensify their cooperation and to
consider meeting regularly at the international level under the aegis of the United
Nations to provide an effective forum for a focused global dialogue on youth-related
issues,
Recalling that, in the World Programme of Action, the World Youth Forum of
the United Nations System was invited to contribute to the implementation of the
Programme through the identification and promotion of joint initiatives to further its
objectives so that they could better reflect the interests of youth,
Welcoming the support of the Government of Senegal for the holding of the
fourth session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System at Dakar
from 6 to 10 August 2001,
Acknowledging that poverty, among other factors, represents a serious
challenge to the full and effective participation and contribution of young people to
society,
Recognizing that global cross-sectoral youth policies should take into
consideration the empowerment and full and effective participation of young people,
their role as a resource and as independent decision-makers in all sectors of society,
1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the
implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and
Beyond;27
2. Calls upon all States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies,
the regional commissions and the intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations concerned, in particular youth organizations, to make every possible
effort towards the implementation of the World Programme of Action, aiming at
cross-sectoral youth policies by integrating a youth perspective into all planning and
decision-making processes relevant to youth;
3. Also calls upon all parties concerned, as mentioned in paragraph 2 above,
within the framework of the Word Programme of Action, to consider the appropriate
ways and means to provide follow-up to the Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies
and Programmes, adopted at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for
Youth;24
__________________
25 See Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, 26-28 April 2000, United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris, 2000.
26 Resolution 55/2.
27 A/56/180.

A/56/572
4. Takes note with appreciation of the work by the regional commissions to
implement the World Programme of Action and to follow up the World Conference
of Ministers Responsible for Youth in their respective regions, in coordination with
regional meetings of ministers responsible for youth and regional non-governmental
youth organizations, and to provide advisory services to support national youth
policies and programmes in each region, and encourages them to continue to do so;
5. Invites all relevant programmes and funds, the specialized agencies and
other bodies within the United Nations system, as well as other intergovernmental
organizations and regional financial institutions to give greater support to national
youth policies and programmes within their country programmes as a way to follow
up the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth;
6. Calls upon all States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies,
the regional commissions and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations, in particular youth organizations, to exchange knowledge and
expertise on youth-related issues, upon setting up the ways and means to do so;
7. Welcomes the public information activities organized by the Secretariat
for International Youth Day, 12 August, as a way to promote better awareness,
especially among youth, of the World Programme of Action;
8. Recognizes that information and communication technology plays a
crucial role as a potential means of promoting participation, access to information
and education and networking possibilities for young people;
9. Welcomes the fact that the special session of the General Assembly on
children will also discuss issues relevant to youth;
10. Expresses its appreciation to the Government of Senegal for its support
to the fourth session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, held
at Dakar from 6 to 10 August 2001, where, once again, youth delegates had the
opportunity to meet and debate strategies for youth empowerment;28
11. Affirms that future sessions of the World Youth Forum of the United
Nations System should integrate an active and representative involvement of youth
organizations and young people into all planning, reviewing and decision-making
processes, and invites the Secretary-General to conduct a thorough review of and
provide recommendations on the Forum’s structure, organization, participation,
including to ensure that it is fully representative of all geographical regions and of a
diversity of views, and processes, taking into account the views of Member States
and youth organizations, and, in this context, to include this matter in his report to
the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, through the Commission for Social
Development at its forty-first session;
12. Recognizes the importance of the full and effective participation of youth
and youth organizations at the local, national, regional and international levels in
promoting and implementing the World Programme of Action and in evaluating the
progress achieved and the obstacles encountered in its implementation and of the
need to support the activities of youth mechanisms that have been set up by youth
and youth organizations, bearing in mind that young people are active agents for
positive change and development in society;
__________________
28 See A/C.3/56/2, concerning the fourth session of the World Youth Forum.

A/56/572
13. Also recognizes the great importance of the empowerment of youth
through building the capacity of young people to achieve greater independence,
overcoming constraints to their participation and providing them with opportunities
to make decisions that affect their life and well-being;
14. Reaffirms the decision of the heads of State and Government, as
contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, to develop and implement
strategies that give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent and
productive work, welcomes, in this context, the Secretary-General’s initiative to
create a Youth Employment Network, and invites the Secretary-General to continue
with these initiatives;
15. Expresses deep concern over the fact that currently approximately half of
new HIV infections are in youth aged 15 to 24 and that no fewer than 6,500 young
people are infected by the virus each day, and reiterates the need to achieve the
goals and commitments contained in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS
adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session, held at
Headquarters from 25 to 27 June 2001;29
16. Reaffirms the importance of schooling and education, in particular for
girls and young women, and recognizes the value of all forms of life-long learning,
including formal education and training and non-formal education;
17. Calls upon Member States, all United Nations bodies and nongovernmental
organizations to continue to implement fully the guidelines for further
planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth, endorsed by the General
Assembly in its resolution 40/14, and the guidelines for the improvement of the
channels of communication between the United Nations and youth and youth
organizations, which the Assembly adopted by its resolutions 32/135 and 36/17, and
in particular to facilitate, in accordance with these resolutions, the activities of youth
mechanisms that have been set up by youth and youth organizations;
18. Takes note with appreciation of the important role of the United Nations
Youth Fund in the implementation of agreed programmes and mandates on youth,
including the provision of support for youth activities promoting South-South
cooperation, and support for the participation of young delegates from the leastdeveloped
countries at the fourth session of the World Youth Forum;
19. Invites all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations to contribute to the Fund, and requests the Secretary-General to take
appropriate actions to encourage contributions;
20. Reiterates the call made in the World Programme of Action to Member
States to consider including youth representatives in their delegations to the General
Assembly and other relevant United Nations meetings, thus broadening the channels
of communication and enhancing the discussion of youth-related issues, and
requests the Secretary-General to convey this invitation again to Member States;
21. Welcomes Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/7 of 24 July
2001, in which the Council decided that the Commission for Social Development
would review the relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action
pertaining to the situation of social groups and the global situation of youth in 2003,
and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General to present a comprehensive report
on this issue, with concrete and action oriented recommendations, to the
__________________
29 Resolution S-26/2, annex.

A/56/572
Commission at its forty-first session, bearing in mind the need for Member States to
develop more holistic and cross-sectoral youth policies and the need to enhance,
inter alia, the channels of communication between the United Nations system and
youth and youth organizations;
22. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its
fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution, in particular on
progress made in the implementation of the World Programme of Action.