UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FORTY-FIRST SESSION Official Records*

THIRD COMMITTEE
17th meeting
held on
Friday, 17 October 1986
at 3 p.m.
New York

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 17th MEETING
Chairman: Mr. HAMER (Netherlands)
CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM 85: QUESTION OF AGING: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 86: POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE: PARTICIPATION, DEVELOPMENT, PEACE: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 87: POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES RELATING TO YOUTH: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 90: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD PROGRAMME OF ACTION CONCERNING DISABLED PERSONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 91: CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued)

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86-56785 5591S (E)

Distr. GENERAL
A/C.3/41/SR.17
24 October 1986
ENGLISH
ORIGINAL: SPANISH

A/C.3/41/SR.17 English
Page 2
The meeting was called to order at 3.10 p.m.
AGENDA ITEM 85« QUESTION OF AGING: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued) (A/41/631, A/41/435)
AGENDA ITEM 86t POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE: PARTICIPATION, DEVELOPMENT, PEACE: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued) (A/41/621, A/41/340-E/1986/90)
AGENDA ITEM 87: POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES RELATING TO YOUTH: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued) (A/41/578, A/41/340-E/1986/90, A/41/354)
AGENDA ITEM 90s IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD PROGRAMME OF ACTION CONCERNING DISABLED PERSONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS: REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued) (A/41/605, A/41/341-S/18065 and Cotr.1)
AGENDA ITEM 91: CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE:] REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (continued) (A/41/618, A/41/354)
1. Mr. POERSCHKE (German Democratic Republic) said that his country had always contributed to the United Nations Congresses on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. The seventh Congress had concentrated mainly on the relationship between crime prevention, peace and development. The results of its deliberations could be found in the Milan Plan of Action adopted during the Congress.
2. His country afforded solid foundations and favorable conditions for the effective prevention of crime. The trend in the crime rate, which had been declining for decades, was the reflection and result of profound political, economic, social, intellectual and cultural change.
3. The basic elements of the Plan had been put into effect in his country insofar as they applied to the national circumstances of a country where there existed, for instance, neither organized crime nor fatal drug abuse.
4. The Constitution upheld the fundamental rights of the young, such as active involvement in political, economic, social and cultural life, the right to education and vocational training, the right to work and full employment, to equal pay for equal work and the right to leisure. The young were protected from harmful influences through special laws, regulations and practical measures. The administration of juvenile justice was in conformity with the Beijing Rules.
5. Mrs. NIKOLIC (Yugoslavia) said that, despite the achievements made as regards the International Plan of Action on Aging, the current situation concerning the implementation of the Plan could not be described as satisfactory. The increasing number of aging people around the world, especially in developing countries, had important socio-economic consequences. The exacerbation of the economic crisis had, moreover, hindered implementation of the Plan, above all in developing

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(Mrs. Nikolic, Yugoslavia)
countries. It was, therefore, necessary to take urgent action to resolve the most important problems facing those countries. Promoting development would improve the situation of the population, including the aging.
6. Each country needed to draw up and apply a policy and a national plan of action, co-ordinating all the different factors in its plan of social and economic development. In order to do so, it needed to create organizational, material and personnel conditions which would allow the Centre in Vienna to operate efficiently. It was also necessary to strengthen the Trust Fund for Aging and increase co-operation among the various United Nations holies concerned. Finally, a United Nations programme needed to he drawn up for the implementation of the Plan of Action.
7. The principles and objectives of the International Youth Year focused on the status of the young in society. The status of the young was an indicator of the main characteristics and dualities of each society. The young had ceased to acknowledge paternalism. They needed to hold political and social influence.
8. As indicated by the experience of some specialized agencies, UNESCO in particular, the United Nations should strive to create conditions in which co-operation between the young and youth organizations at all levels could increase. The existing channels of communication in that area were inadequate and must Improve. The conclusions and recommendations appearing in documents A/41/578 and A/41/621 were positive in that regard.
9. Despite the progress made, the young in Yugoslavia faced difficulties similar to those of the young in other countries, such as unemployment and underemployment. Youth organizations had tried to find solutions to the problems of the young and create conditions in which their situation could improve and they could take more part in the decision-making within the community.
10. Activities co-ordinate by the Yugoslav Committee for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, in co-operation with federal committees and disabled people's organizations, were taking place in her country. Yugoslavia was also co-operating with other countries and national committees, and with United Nations agencies.
11. Her country continued to support the activities of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs geared to assisting the developing countries with the rehabilitation of the disabled. The Centre should continue to co-ordinate implementation of the World Programme of Action.
12. The prevention of crime was a very complex issue given the existence of phenomena such as drug abuse, international terrorism and international organized crime. Accordingly, the role of the United Nations was becoming increasingly Intensive and comprehensive. The se **nth Congress had approved five important international agreements which represented new progress on the subject.

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(Mrs. Nikolic, Yugoslavia)
13. The question of crime prevention in the context of development should he considered primarily in relation to the social and economic consequences of crime, particularly in the case of International and transnational crime. Furthermore, the Economic and Social Council should at its forthcoming session carefully consider the preparations and agenda for the eighth Congress, which it had been unable to endorse during the 1986 session. Finally, she stressed that greater co-ordination was needed among the United Nations bodies and services dealing with similar problems from different points of view, in order to save money and avoid duplication.
14. Mr. ZHANG Saijin (China) said that although progress had been made in respect of disabled parsons it still fell short of the goals established in the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons. Measures taken by China in that connection Included the re-establishment of the Chinese Organizing Committee for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, loans amounting to RMB 14 million for welfare factories designed especially for disabled persons, the carrying out of a census covering a population of 1.5 million disabled persons in order to obtain a reliable data bane for the purpose of formulating special legislative guidelines, policies and programmes and a number of other measures. In 1985, China had pledged $10,000 to the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons. His Government was pleased to see that the activities of the Decade were drawing increasing support and that 70 countries had provided information concerning the implementation of the Programme of Action.
15. Mrs. ITO (Japan) expressed sympathy in connection with the recent earthquake in El Salvador and announced that Japan had sent a relief team and relief assistance in the amount of $250,000.
16. It was essential to revitalize the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs within the existing resources and to encourage closer co-operation among United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, Governments and non-governmental organizations. Exchange of information and experiences at the national, regional and international levels was the most constructive step that could be taken to achieve further progress in that area.
17. While her Government generally supported the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth, its understanding was that the reference to the preparation of appropriate international instruments, contained in paragraph 76 (g) of document A/40/256, was that it did not cover formulation of any instrument dealing with the rights and responsibilities of youth, because the situations affecting youth differed from country to country. Her delegation would like to see General Assembly resolutions 32/135 and 36/17 effectively implemented.
18. Her delegation strongly supported the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons. With a view to obtaining the aims of that Programme, in 1982, Japan had formulated a long-term plan on measures for disabled persons and established a headquarters for promoting the welfare of disabled p -sons. Local communities were also taking similar measures. Her Government had promoted

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(Mrs. Ito, Japan)
bilateral co-operation with developing countries by extending medical and technical assistance for development In August 1986, it had replied to the Questionnaire on the first round of monitoring the implementation of the Programme.
19. In order to ensure the implementation of the Milan Plan of Action adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 40/32 Member States must be allowed to take into account their own social and economic conditions as well as their legal system.
20. Mr. CERMAK (Austria) said that according to the comments submitted by Governments pursuant to paragraph 1 of General Assembly resolution 40/30, the vast majority of States were not in favour of new structures or funds to deal with the question of aging. Thus it seemed all the more surprising that one delegation continued to seek a new structural arrangement. While it was true that the United Nations had not developed its full potential, the United Nations could only do so much - the rest must be done by the Member States. He noted with satisfaction that the United Nations Trust Fund on Aging still had funds available although they were limited. He hoped that measures to promote the Fund, which included the issuing of a project catalogue, would not go unnoticed.
21. His Government had provided over $ 150,000 and hoped that other Member States would make at least a token contribution. Several Governments had called for the strengthening of the Trust Fund and its present management and only one Government had suggested that alternative management arrangements might be explored. It was unfortunate that some of the momentum of the World Assembly on Aging had been lost. However, that momentum could not be regained simply by creating a new mechanism in the field of aging, separated from the relevant United Nations unit.
22. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 40/16 concerning opportunities for youth, his Government had established project "HOPE 87" which involved the holding of an international exposition at Vienna, from 28 April to 2 May 1987.
23. Mr. MATSOUKA (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) recalled that recently the United Nations had been giving more and more attention to the most vulnerable social groups, including the aging and the disabled, as demonstrated by the International Plan of Action on Aging and the World Programs of Action concerning Disabled Persons. Undoubtedly the proper implementation of those programmes would depend on the measures taken at the national level and on State policy, based on the principles of social justice.
24. Firstly it was necessary to prevent all discrimination against the aging and the disabled. Not only should they have the same opportunities as other members of society but they must also be given specific benefits to help them overcome any inherent disadvantages they might have.
25. Secondly, social justice meant giving assistance to all groups of society, whatever their national or ethnic origin. Everyone Knew that the aging and the disabled with limited means often lived almost exclusively on charity.

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(Mr. Matsouka, Ukrainian SSR)
26. He shared the concern expressed by the representative of Austria with regard to the proposed creation of additional programmes or units within the United Nations to co-ordinate the activities and execute the Plan of Action on Aging. There was no need to create new structures, since those activities were currently the responsibility of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs and all the divisions and departments of the United Nations which dealt with those problems operated efficiently although they were accused of not having much initiative.
27. In the Ukrainian SSR, concern for the aging and the disabled was an integral part of socio-economic policy and details of the relevant programmes had been sent in response to the United Nations Questionnaire. It should be pointed out that resources were being allocated to improve the quality of life of the aging and the disabled and that pensions and allowances for food and care in the homes for these groups of society had been increased. There were also discounts on drug purchases and on rents, and special rates for transportation. That approach to the needs of the aging and the concern of the State made them feel that they were useful members of society.
28. The question of the disabled was very important and it was not enough simply to try to improve their situation. It was also necessary to prevent and avoid the causes of disability. It was necessary to have better living and working conditions for the disabled and, above all, to avoid wars and armed conflicts, which were a cause of disability, not only for those directly Involved in the fighting but also for women, children and all who lived through a war.
The meeting rose at 4.35 p.m.