UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FORTY-THIRD SESSION Official Records*

THIRD COMMITTEE
31st meeting
held on
Thursday, 3 November 1968
at 3 p.m.
New York

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 31st MEETING
Chairman: Mr. ABULHASAN (Kuwait)
CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM 89: QUESTION OF AGING (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 92: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD PROGRAMME OF ACTION CONCERNING DISABLED PERSONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS (continued.)
AGENDA ITEM 93: CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (continued)
AGENDA ITEM 115: PROGRAMME PLANNING
AGENDA ITEM 144: RESPONSIBILITY OF STATES TO BAN IN THEIR TERRITORY, AND TO REFRAIN FROM INSTIGATING OR SUPPORTING IN THE TERRITORY OF OTHER STATES, CHAUVINISTIC, RACIST AND OTHER MANIFESTATIONS THAT MAY CAUSE DISCORD BETWEEN PEOPLES AND INVOLVEMENT OF GOVERNMENTS AND THE MASS MEDIA IN COMBATING SUCH MANIFESTATIONS AMD IN EDUCATING PEOPLES AND YOUTH IN THE SPIRIT OF PEACEFUL CO-OPERATION AND INTERNATIONAL ENTENTE; AND EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE PROMOTION AMONG YOUTH OF THE IDEALS OF PEACE, MUTUAL. RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PEOPLES (continued)

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Distr. GENERAL A/C.3/43/SR.31 8 November 1988

88-56860 0638S (E)

ORIGINAL} ENGLISH

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The meeting was called to order at 3.10 p.m.
AGENDA ITEM 89t QUESTION OF AGING (continued) (A/C.3/43/L.15)
Draft resolution A/C.3/42/L.15
1. The CHAIRMAN Said that draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.15 did not have any implications for the programma budget of the United Nations. The delegations of Samoa and Yugoslavia had become sponsors.
2. Mr. KRENKEL (Austria) said that in the eighth preambular paragraph, the word "impossible" should be replaced by the word "difficult". In operative paragraph 9, the words "restored to" should be replaced by the words "maintained at". Ha hoped that the draft resolution could be adopted without a vote.
3. Mr. McGANM (United States of America) said that, because his delegation supported the amendment to operative paragraph 9, it would like to be added to the list of sponsors.
4. Mr. LY (Senegal) said that the eleventh preambular paragraph, which appeared in the English and Spanish versions, was missing from the French version of the draft resolution and he asked that the Secretariat should be so informed.
5. Mrs. ASHION (Bolivia) said that her delegation wished to be added to the list of sponsors.
6. Draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.IS. as amended. was adopted without a vote.
7. Mr. CHBYSANTHOPOULOS (Greece), speaking on behalf of the 12 States members of the European Community, said that while the Twelve were pleased to have been able to join in the consensus, there was some concern regarding the relationship of the resolution to the process of reform and renewal in the United Nations, as established in General Assembly resolution 41/213. The Twelve accepted draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.15 on the understanding that its provisions had no implications with regard to the implementation of that resolution; that it did not in any way forestall decisions to be taken by the Fifth Committee on the Secretary-General's report on the revised estimates (A/C.5/43/l/Rev.1); and that there were no programme budget implications. Furthermore, decisions on programmatic issues and priorities must continue to be taken in accordance with the relevant resolutions, in particular General Assembly resolution 37/234.
AGENDA ITEM 92: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD PROGRAMME OF ACTION CONCERNING DISABLED PERSONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS (continued) (A/C.3/43/L.20)
Pratt resolution A/C.3/43/L.20
8. The CHAIRMAN said that the draft resolution did not have any implications for
the programme budget of the United Nations. The delegation of Samoa had become a
sponsor.

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9. Ma. ARGUILLAS (Philippines) said that in the annex, paragraph (g) (i), after the word "right", the following phrase should be deleted "to have sign language accepted as their official language, and".
10. Draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.20. as amended, was adopted.
AGENDA ITEM 93i CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (continued) (A/C.3/43/L.19 and L.22)
Draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.19
11. The CHAIRMAN said that the draft resolution did have financial implications and that the statement of the Secretary-General on the programme budget implications was contained in document A/C.3/43/L.22. The delegations of Samoa and the United States hat! joined the list of sponsors.
12. Mr. CQTTAFAVI (Italy), speaking on behalf of the sponsors of the draft resolution, said that in the fifth preambular paragraph, the words "the strengthening of international co-operation in the fight against transnational crime" should be inserted after the words "effective administration of justice". In the same paragraph, after the words "professional conduct", the remaining words of the paragraph should be deleted. In operative paragraph 4, the words "as identified in the Milan Plan of Action" should be inserted after the words "criminal justice". In operative paragraph 9, the words "crime programme" should be replaced by the words "United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme". He announced That Ghana and Norway had joined the list of sponsors.
13. Mrs. BARISH (Costa Rica) said that as a co-sponsor of the draft resolution and as a member of the regional preparatory meeting for Latin America for the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders her delegation welcomed the draft resolution referred to in paragraph 89 of the Secretary-General's report (A/43/572). She noted that the regional preparatory meeting for Latin America would take place in Costa Rica and expressed hopes for its success.
14. Draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.19. as amended, was adopted.
AGENDA ITEM 144: RESPONSIBILITY OF STATES TO BAN IN THEIR TERRITORY, AND TO REFRAIN FROM INSTIGATING OR SUPPORTING IN THE TERRITORY OF OTHER STATES, CHAUVINISTIC, RACIST AND OTHER MANIFESTATIONS THAT MAY CAUSE DISCORD BETWEEN PEOPLES AND INVOLVEMENT OF GOVERNMENTS AND THE MASS MEDIA IN COMBATING SUCH MANIFESTATIONS AND IN EDUCATING PEOPLES AND YOUTH IN THE SPIRIT OF PEACEFUL CO-OPERATION AND INTERNATIONAL ENTENTE; AND EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE PROMOTION AMONG YOUTH OF THE IDEALS OF PEACE, MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PEOPLES (continued) (A/C.3/43/L.17/Rev.1)
Draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.17/Rev.1
15. Mr. VOICU (Romania), introducing draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.17/Rev.1, said
that; his delegation had conducted informal consultations on draft resolution

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(Mr, voicu, Romania)
A/C.3/43/L.17. The result of those consultations was reflected in the ravised draft resolution.
16. In the first praambular paragraph, the words "the fundamental objactiva of the United Nations to wave" should be changed to "that a fundamental objective of the United Nations is to save". In the fourth praambular paragraph, the word "also" should be inserted before the words "contribute to". In the fifth praambular paragraph, the word "is" should be replaced by the words "should be". In operative paragraph 1, the words "in accordance with their legislation" should be inserted after the words "to adopt affective measures". In operative paragraph 4, the word "issue" should be changed to "resolution".
17. The main purpose of draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.17/Rev.1 was to promote co-operation in educating youth in the spirit of peace, mutual respect and understanding among nations. It emphasized the important role of youth in society, in all fields of activity. To that end it proposed that the implementation of the Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding Between Peoples should be evaluated. He appealed to all delegations to join in the consensus on the revised draft resolution.
18. Mr. LINDHQLM (Sweden) said that, from the outset, his delegation had had certain problems with agenda item 144. He wondered whether it was an item that should be considered by the Committee. The Romanian representative's introduction of the item had been unclear. His delegation had also had many problems with the actual text. It referred to peace, mutual respect and understanding between peoples and saving future generations from the scourge of war. It was not clear whether it really referred to youth. If it did, it should be incorporated in the omnibus resolution on youth.
19. His delegation also had difficulties with operative paragraphs 3 and 4. It did not want States to be invited to submit their views and comments on a Declaration, adopted on a Romanian initiative in 1965, which most people had forgotten about. It did not feel that the Commission for Social Development should be requested to consider it.
20. The introduction of item 144 was a misuse of the United Nations system. He hoped that the representative of Romania would withdraw the proposal.
21. Mrs. CAMARA (Cote d'lvoire) asked the representative of Romania whether he intended to maintain the excessively long title of agenda item 144.
22. Mrs. MUKHERJEE (India) said that, if the meaning of the amendment to operative paragraph 4 was that at the forty-fifth session of the General Assembly the resolution would be considered under the item entitled "Policies and programmes involving youth", and that the title of the item would be the title of the draft resolution and not the title of agenda item 144, her delegation had no fundamental difficulty with the draft resolution. However, it felt that the last phrase of operative paragraph 1 was too negative and suggested that it should be recast in a more positive form.

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23. Mrs. WARZAZI (Morocco) said that her delegation had no problems with the revised draft resolution but that it could not support the title of agenda item 144. Since item 144 was already on the agenda of the General Assembly and could not be changed, her delegation could only vote in favour of the revised draft resolution itself.
24. Mr. MCGANN (United States of America) said that his delegation fully supported the comments made by the previous speakers and believed that the revised draft resolution was only tangentially concerned with the question of youth. The omnibus resolution on youth was sufficient for the purpose of dealing with the item; his delegation saw no need for an additional draft resolution on the subject.
25. Mrs, MBELLA NGOMBA (Cameroon) said that her delegation fully supported the United States representative; it would have difficulty in taking a decision on the draft resolution because of the very lengthy title. She called on the Romanian representative to request the General Assembly to change the title of the agenda item so as to reflect the content of the draft resolution.
26. Mr. KRENKEL (Austria) said that the title of agenda item 144, which the Committee could not change, was not the same as the title of the draft resolution. It was clear in operative paragraph 4 that the views of the Commission for Social Development would be submitted under the item entitled "Policies and programmes involving youth" and not under agenda item 144 or UNDER the title of the draft resolution.
2/. Mr. OGURTSOV (Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic) said that his delegation would not have any difficulty in adopting the revised draft resolution by consensus. . was concerned with the very important question of the implementation of the Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding Between Peoples; those who had forgotten the Declaration would be well advised to study it and understand how important it was. As to the difficulties concerning the title of the agenda item and the title of the draft resolution, the Romanian delegation was best placed to settle that matter.
28. Mr. VOICU (Romania) said that, as noted by the representative of Morocco, the Committee was voting on the revised draft resolution, which did not include the title of agenda item 144. He also confirmed that at the forty-fifth session of the General Assembly, the draft resolution and the reports submitted in accordance with it would be considered in the context of the item entitled "Policies and programmes involving youth". The word "issue" had been changed to "resolution" so as to remove any doubts about the future of the item. As to the comment by the representative of India about operative paragraph 1, that paragraph taken as a whole did have a positive orientation. The comments made by the representative of Sweden concerned draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.17 rather than the revised draft resolution; he hoped that the representative of Sweden would understand that the new text took care of some of the reservations he had had about the original draft resolution.
29. Mrs. SYLLA-LINGAYA (Madagascar) said that the fifth preambular paragraph of the French text of the draft resolution should be brought in line with the English text,

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30. Mr. GALAL (Egypt) asked what would happen to the title of agenda item 144 if the Committee voted only on the draft resolution, without the title of agenda item 144.
31. Mrs. MBELLA NGOMBA (Cameroon) said that if the title of agenda item 144 was not the title intended by the Romanian delegation, she wondered what it was doing in the text of the draft resolution.
32. After a procedural discussion in which Mr. VOICU (Romania). Mrs. WAR2AZI (Morocco). Mrs. MUKHERJEE (India). Mr. MCGANN (United States of America).
Mrs. MBELLA NGOMBA (Cameroon). Miss. AIOUAZE (Algeria) and Mr. SHAUKAT (Pakistan) took part, the CHAIRMAN suggested that the Committee should suspend its meeting for informal consultations and then take action on the draft resolution.
The meeting was suspended at 4.40 p.m. and resumed at 4.50 p.m.
33. Mr. VOICU, (Romania) said that the Committee was being invited to take action on a draft resolution the sole title of which was as stated in the text of document A/C.3/43/L.17/Rev.1.
34. In order to meet the points raised by some delegations, he proposed that an additional preambular paragraph should be inserted before the last preambular paragraph, reading as follows:
"Stressing the necessity of the implementation of the provision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights towards the promotion amongst youth of the ideals of peace through mutual respect and understanding between peoples,".
35. He also proposed that, in the last phrase of operative paragraph 1, the word "and" should be added between "mistrust" and "discord" and that the words "and hatred among States and peoples" should be deleted.
36. He expressed the hope that those proposed amendments would make it possible for the draft resolution to be adopted without a vote.
37. Mr. LINDHOLM, (Sweden) sought clarification as to whether agenda item 144 and its title would disappear from the agenda and that the item would not appear in the agenda of the forty-fourth session of the General Assembly.
38. Mr. VOICU (Romania) said that the assumption of the representative of Sweden was correct.
39. Mrs. MBELLA NGOMBA (Cameroon), speaking in explanation of vote before the vote, supported the interpretation given by the representative of Sweden that, as a result of the Committee's action on the draft resolution, item 144 would disappear from the agenda.

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40. The CHAIRMAN said that, if there were no objections, he would take it that the Committee wished to adopt draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.17/Rev.l, as amended, without a vote.
41. It was so decided.
42. Mr. CHRYSANTHOPOULOS (Greece), speaking in explanation of vote on behalf of the member States of the European Economic Community, said that the Twelve had reservations regarding operative paragraph 2 which had implications regarding the exercising of influence on the mass media. A resolution on youth should not focus so much on the mass media.
43. Ms. MERCHANT (Norway), speaking on behalf of the Nordic countries, expressed the hope that in future there would be only one resolution on the question of youth.
44. Ms. RIDDELL (New Zealand) shared the view expressed by the representative of Sweden and others. It was her assumption that in future the subject would be subsumed in the item entitled "Policies and programmes involving youth".
45. Mr. STUART (Australia) expressed the view that draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.17/Rev.l was redundant and that even the final version lacked focus and objective. He hoped that at the next session there would be only a single resolution on youth.
46. The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had concluded its consideration of item 144 and that the resolution which had just been adopted would fall under item 90.
Draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.13/Rev.2
47. Mr. VAN WULFFTEN-PALTHE (Netherlands), introducing the revised draft
resolution, said that it differed from the text of draft resolution
A/C.3/43/L.13/Rev.1 only on the following points. Operative paragraph 11 was new and would emphasize respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of everyone. There was also a new operative paragraph 15, with a subsequent amendment, that would request the Secretary-General "to consider to include" the United Nations Youth Fund among the programmes for which funds were pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities. There was a minor change in the first line of operative paragraph 14 and a footnote had been added to the seventh preambular paragraph.
48. In operative paragraph 11 the words "the provisional" should be replaced by "providing", while in operative paragraph 13, line 5, the words "relevant regulations of the United Nations and of the" should be added before "proposed letter of understanding".
49. He also wished to announce that Bolivia and Greece had become co-sponsors of the draft resolution.
50. In conclusion, he expressed the hope that draft resolution A/C.3/43/L.13/Rev.2, as amended, would be adopted without a vote.

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51. The CHAIRMAN said he had been informed that the revised draft resolution did not have any implication for the programme budget of the United Nations.
52. He had boon informed that Greece, Pakistan, Samoa and Spain had also become co-***
53. Mrs. BARISH (Costa Rica), Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Mrs. MBELLA NGOMBA (Cameroon) said that they wished to become co-sponsors of the draft resolution.
54. Miss AIOUZZE (Algeria) said that operative paragraph 10 contained a number of ideas which had been adopted in 1987 but also incorporated some new ideas with the result that the text was not very clear. In particular she failed to understand the meaning of the French text of the phrase which reads "conformement a l'experience, a la situation et aux priorities nationals". She asked whether the text of other language versions clarified the meaning.
55. Mrs. WARZAZI (Morocco) said that there was a substantial difference between the English and French texts of operative paragraph 2. The word "s'evertuer" in the French text was not a correct translation of "to promote" Which was the term used in the English text.
56. The] CHAIRMAN laid that the original text of draft resolution
A/C.3/43/L.13/Rev.2 was English. The Secretariat would be requested to ensure that
the French and other language versions were fully consistent with the English text.
57. If there were no objections he would take it that the Committee wished to adopt the draft resolution as amended without a vote.
58. It was ao decided.
59. Mr. McGANN (United States of America), speaking in explanation of vote, said that he had problems with operative paragraph 12 which, in his view, was not clear. He wished to stress that youth employment should not be funded by government programmes. Economic growth and expansion were the only means whereby the volume of available work could be increased. The atmosphere most conducive to the expansion of work opportunities was that of individual liberty and freedom of expression and association.
60. The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee had completed its consideration of item 90.
AGENDA ITEM 115| PROGRAMME PLANNING (A/C.3/43/L.4)
61. The CHAIRMAN drew attention to document A/C.3/43/L.4 containing a letter from the President of the General Assembly to the Chairman of the Third Committee in which he had transmitted a letter from the Chairman of the Fifth Committee relating to item 115 of the agenda entitled "Programme planning".
62. Mr. BAKER (Director. Office of the Director-General for Development and International Economic Co-operation), introducing the item on behalf of the

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(Mr. Baiter)
Director-General for Development and International Economic Co-operation, said that the Director-General, as Chairman of the Programme Planning and Budgeting Board, wished to make a brief presentation of two documents which had been referred to the Main Committees of the General Assembly, including the Third Committee. The first dealt with the proposed revisions to the medium-term plan for the period 1984-1989 to cover the biennium 1990-1991 and the second contained the draft introduction to the next medium-term plan for the period 1992-1997.
63. He recalled that the current medium-term plan for the period 1984-1989 had been extended by two years to cover the period 1990-1991 and thereby permit sufficient time to introduce a significant change to the medium-term plan itself. Revisions proposed to the current plan to cover that extended period had been considered by the Committee for Programme and Co-ordination at its twenty-eighth session and were subject to many modifications as reflected in the Committee's report (A/43/16 (Part I)). Revisions had also been considered by ACABQ at its spring session, as indicated in its report (A/43/626). The Third Committee was expected to comment on the chapters relevant to its work as indicated in the appendix to document A/C.3/43/L.4.
64. The draft introduction to the medium-term plan for the period to begin in 1992 (A/43/329) represented an important innovation in the planning process of the United Nations. In keeping with General Assembly resolution 41/213, for the first time, a draft of the Secretary-General's introduction to the plan was being submitted to Member States for wide consultations before the detailed drafting of the plan began. Members would recall that the process of consultations had begun with the circulation of a paper in September 1987 entitled "Some perspectives on the work of the United Nations in the 1990s" (A/42/512). The draft now submitted had benefited from views expressed on that paper by Member States at the forty-second session of the General Assembly, in the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1988, and CPC at its resumed twenty-eighth session in September 1988, as well as by colleagues in the United Nations system. Based on views expressed in the Third Committee as well as in other Committees at the current session of the General Assembly, a final draft of the introduction would be prepared and would serve as the basis for detailed drafting of the plan itself.
65. The draft before the Committee began with a prologue which attempted to describe in broad terms some of the salient trends which would probably condition the world in which the United Nations must operate in the 1990s. The body of the draft text attempted to respond to the relevant regulations and to the views expressed by Member States in highlighting the policy orientation of the United Nations system, indicating objectives, strategy and trends deduced from mandates, and presenting the Secretary-General's comments on priorities. The Third Committee might wish to pay particular attention to section C, "Economic and Social Advancement of All Peoples", of part II, Mandates and Programmes.
66. Issues on which the specific advice of the Committee was sought included a recommendation by the Secretary-General that the structure of the plan be simplified. A simpler mode of presentation would provide a clearer picture of the basic orientation of the work of the United Nations as well as reflect accurately

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(Mr. Bazes)
the nature of the issues being addressed. The level of detail provided in the past had risked obscuring the interrelatedness of activities and had also implied a certain rigidity in the Secretariat structure which the Organization could ill afford today. He wished to emphasize that the simplified structure did not in any way imply any reduction on the programme and role of the Organization. On the contrary, more clarity in the design of its aims and objectives and a greater concentration of its activities should lead to an enhanced role and more effective performance.
67. The Committee for Programs wane and Co-ordination had discussed the issue of simplification at *** resumed session on the basis of the proposals contained in the draft introduction and of an informal paper containing a preliminary list of programmes under each of four major programmes. The conclusions and recommendations of the Committee were contained in paragraph 72 of its report on its resumed twenty-eighth session (A/43/16, Part II).
08. The Fifth Committee would soon be considering the structure of the plan on the basis, inter alia, of the Comments of delegations in the Main Committees of the General Assembly. A draft of the proposed structure would be made available to the Committee later. It was therefore hoped that the Third Committee would be in a position to comment on the draft in order to facilitate the work of the Fifth Committee. It was urgent that the General Assembly should reach conclusions on the structure of the plan in order to enable the Secretariat to start the process of consultations with the intergovernmental bodies very early in 1989. Some of them would be meeting as soon as the end of January 1989.
69. The second point to which he wished to call the Committee's attention concerned the comments on priorities by the Secretary-General in section III of the draft introduction. He could not emphasize too strongly the desirability that Member States reach agreement on those areas in which the resources of the United Nations, both human and financial, were to be focused. The draft introduction was predicated on the assumption that the current financial arises of the Organization would have been overcome. But even then, resources would always be finite and the criteria of efficiency and effectiveness would remain relevant.
70. It was of course the responsibility of Member States to decide upon the priorities of the Organisation. It was also the responsibility of the Secretary-General to make proposals in order to assist Member States. Preliminary comments were contained in paragraphs 95 to 111. They would be developed and defined in the light of views put forward bv Member States.
71. In concluding, he would like to make two general remarks. First, no plan could presume to foresee the future. The medium-tern, plan of the United Nations must provide for a capacity for the United Nations to respond to uncertainties and to adjust its activities to changing circumstances while pursuing the priority objectives assigned to it by the Member States. Second, he wished to emphasize that consultations with Member States were not a one-time affair. Consultations were essential *not only in the formulation of the plan, which was the object of the current exercise, but throughout its implementation. Only thus could the plan be

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(Mr. Baker)
** dynamic instrument envisaged that would not only shape successive programme sudqets but also guide the legislative bodies and the Secretariat in their endeavors.
72. Mr. BEN HAMIDA (Tunisia), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77, said that one of the basic objectives of the medium-term plan (A/43/329) should be to further the important goal of promoting human rights by working for the complete elimination of apartheid and racial discrimination. The plan should stress flagrant and massive violations of human rights wherever they occurred instead of becoming sidetracked by incidents which, however *isturbing, occurred independently of the will of States and over which they had no control. The draft introduction failed to stress the direct and inevitable impact of the international economic and financial situation on the realization of human rights, particularly economic and social rights and the right to development.
73. The plan also did not sufficiently stress the clear complementarity between all human rights and the need for a global and realistic approach on the part of the United Nations to its human rights responsibilities. The medium-term plan should also deal with the problems of migrant workers, for whom the United Nations could do much more besides formulating an international convention.
74.
report was also unclear on the respective roles of intergovernmental human rights bodies and of special rapporteurs. The latter could not be considered a substitute for the former, which remained the legally competent bodies to discuss and decide human rights questions. That should be reflected in the medium-term
plan.
75. In connection with paragraph 67 of the introduction (A/43/329), he said that drug trafficking could not be fought by isolated measures. It required an international effort to provide more economic assistance and technical co-operation to the developing countries, particularly in the agricultural sector, and such an approach should bo reflected in the medium-term plan. On the subject of social and humanitarian development, closer attention should be paid to the problem of aging. On the matter of refugees, the Group of 77 reaffirmed its support for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He should be given the material support he needed to enable him to implement programmes to help refugees in Asia, Latin America and Africa who had been forced to leave their countries of origin.
76. Ms.LAFORTUNE (Canada;, speaking also on bebal of the delegations of Australia and New Zealand, said that the medium-tern, plan was balanced and gave appropriate recognition to programmes of direct interest to Member States. The second major programme relating to international law and human rights and fundamental freedoms shoud remain the main focus of the revised medium-term plan because it included responsibilities for all human rights activities designed to meet the fundamental goals of social justice, equality between men and women and promotion of the human rights embodied in the United Nations Charter.
77. Positive human rights programmes, as a complement to standard-setting and monitoring, were Also important and the establishment of national infrastructures

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(Ms. Lafortuse, Canada)
to promote and protect human rights also meant aerating the institutions and strengthening the existing machinery that vara necessary for the full realization of human rights.
78. The United Nations had a responsibility for facilitating the implementation of inte. national human rights instruments and the operation of the relevant bodies established under them. That responsibility should be reflected in the revised programs. On the subject of the advancement of woman, priority should be given to the goals of equality and dignity of the human parson, and the involvement of woman in economic decision-making. Implementation of the Forward-looking Strategies should also be regarded as a system-wide priority and adequate resources should be provided to enable the United Nations to continue its important work in combating drugs.
79. Mr. KRENKEL (Austria) said that his delegation had studied documents concerning to the revisions of the medium-term plan and supported the relevant programmes and subprogrammes contained in them.
80. The draft introduction to the medium-term plan (A/43/329) was of particular importance. He drew attention to paragraph 54, which his delegation supported, concerning the Committee's priorities on social and human rights questions. The guidelines contained in its specific resolutions should be reflected in the draft introduction.
81. His country welcomed the proposed new structure of the medium-term plan as outlined in paragraph 33 but felt that more detailed information about its programmatic, personal and financial implications were needed before views on it could be solicited. The Third Committee should be informed of further developments so as to enable it to comment on the grouping of subprogrammes under major programmes or the possible inclusion of additional subprogrammes at a later stage.
82. Ms. DU yong (China) said that document A/43/329 could serve as a preliminary framswo'k for the Committee's deliberations. She welcomad the decision to refer the introduction to the medium-term plan to the Main Committees.
83. Her delegation was pleased that issues of concern to the Committee were covered in the introduction, but regretted that they were scattered in too many sections. The text should therefore be restructured by combining the sections on human rights and fundamental freedoms and the section on social progress into a single section.
84. She welcomed the inclusion of the priority issues of racis*** and women in the introduction, but felt that in paragraph 42, colonialism, foreign aggression and occupation should be added to apartheid as factors contributing to the massive violations of human rights because they were directly connected with peace, security and self-determination.
85. He agreed with the emphasis in paragraphs 47 and 48 on the role of the international human rights instruments. The medium-term plan must encourage

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(Ms. Du Yong, China)
Governments to ratify and abide by them. The programme had also done well to anticipate in paragraph 4, the entry into force of a convention on the rights of the child and of the convention on the protection of the rights of migrant workers and their families.
86. The introduction should also refer to the protection and development of collective as well as individual human rights. Such collective rights as the right to self-determination, the right to development and permanent sovereignty over national wealth and resources, all embodied in international instruments, should also be reflected in the introduction.
87. The introduction had failed to attach the name importance to economic, social and cultural *** as to civil and political rights. The United Nations should do more research on the theory of economic, social and cultural rights in order to promote their implementation and the introduction should help to strengthen United Nations work in that area.
88. The economic and social advancement of all peoples had rightly been given due attention, but the introduction should also include the problem of refugees and how the United Nations intended to deal with it in its next medium-term plan.
89. Lastly, he sought clarification of the sentence in paragraph 47 that read "and will further develop mechanisms for urgent interventions to save human lives in such situations".