STRENGTHENING OF UNITED NATIONS CAPACITY FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AMONG TOPICS ACTED UPON BY ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

Press Release
ECOSOC/5685

STRENGTHENING OF UNITED NATIONS CAPACITY FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AMONG TOPICS ACTED UPON BY ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

The Secretary-General was requested to submit recommendations for strengthening all aspects of the United Nations system capacity for humanitarian assistance to the Economic and Social Council's 1997 substantive session, by the terms of one of eight texts adopted by the Council this afternoon without a vote. Also adopted was a resolution requesting the Council President to convene for one more year the ad hoc open-ended working group on the need to harmonize and improve United Nations information systems for optimal utilization and accessibility by all States.

In other actions, the Council:

-- Endorsed the revised system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women; -- Appealed to Member States and the United Nations system to increase the disbursement of grants and soft loans for the reconstruction and development of Lebanon; -- Decided to bring to the attention of the Commission on Sustainable Development an intersessional strategy paper entitled "Towards the sustainable supply of minerals in the context of Agenda 21"; and -- Recommended that governments consider measures to improve the efficient use of water resources in the context of sustainable production and consumption patterns and the growing importance of world trade.

In addition, the Council took note of the report of the Committee on Natural Resources and the provisional agenda for its fourth session; and decided that future sessions of the Committee should be eight working days in length. It also set dates of its 1997 sessions, as well as those of its subsidiary bodies.

Action on drafts concerning the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women was deferred.

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In addition this afternoon, the representative of Papua New Guinea introduced a draft resolution on the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the United Nations system.

The Council also conducted elections, nominations and appointments postponed from previous sessions, as follows:

-- Programme Coordination Board of the Joint and Co-sponsored Programme on HIV/AIDS: Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Mexico, Norway and Thailand;

-- Commission on Population and Development: Malaysia and Panama;

-- Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: Egypt, Gambia and Malawi;

-- Executive Board of the World Food Programme: Angola and Ethiopia; and

-- Intergovernmental Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting: Panama;

In addition, the Council appointed Maria Jonas, of Austria, Noelie Kangoye, of Burkina Faso, and Mona Khalaf, of Lebanon, to the Board of Trustees of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women.

Elected to the Committee on Natural Resources were Gustavo Alvarez, from Uruguay; Adel Jalili, from Iran; Mohammad Nawaz Khan, from Pakistan; Carlos Saldivar, from Paraguay; and Carmen de Visbal, from Venezuela.

Elected to the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and Energy for Development were Bernard Devin, from France; Daniel Fernandez- Ravetti, from Paraguay; Ahmad Kahrobaian, from Iran; Choon-Ho Kim, from the Republic of Korea; Eduardo Praseli, from Venezuela; and E.V.R Sastry, from India.

Further, Ireland was elected to the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Austria was nominated to the Committee on Programme and Coordination for election by the General Assembly.

The Council also confirmed the names of several representatives to its functional commissions which were submitted since the end of its 1996 organizational session.

The Council will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 26 July, to continue its deliberations.

Council Work Programme

The Economic and Social Council met this afternoon to continue its general segment. It was scheduled to hear the introduction of a draft resolution on the implementation of the Declaration on decolonization by the United Nations system and to take action on drafts concerning special economic, humanitarian and disaster relief assistance; human rights questions; the advancement of women; natural resources; international cooperation in the field of informatics; and programme and related questions in the economic, social and related fields. The Council was also expected to conduct elections, nominations and appointments postponed from previous sessions.

Elections, Nominations, Appointments

The Council is expected to hold elections, nominations and appointments postponed from previous sessions.

Elections are to be held as follows:

-- Five members to the 22-member Programme Coordination Board of the Joint and Co-sponsored Programme on HIV/AIDS for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 1997, as follows: one from African States; one from Asian States; one from Latin American and Caribbean States; and two from Western European and Other States. (Seats are being vacated by Australia, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Mexico and Thailand.) (document E/1996/91);

-- Twenty-four members to the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development for a term beginning on 1 January 1997, as follows: six from African States; five from Asian States; three from Eastern European States; four from Latin American and Caribbean States; and six from Western European and Other States. (The length of the terms will be determined by a drawing of lots upon completion of the membership.) (documents E/1996/L.15 and Add.1); and

-- Three members from African States to the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development for a term beginning on the date of election and expiring on 31 December 1996.

The Council is also scheduled to hold elections to the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Commission on Human Settlements, Commission on Population and Development, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Executive Board of the World Food Programme, Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting, and Committee on Natural Resources and Commission on Science and Technology for Development.

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The Council will also appoint, for a three-year term beginning on the date of the election, three members to the 11-member Board of Trustees of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, as follows: one from African States; one from Asian States; and one from Western European and Other States (documents E/1996/79 and Adds.1 and 2).

It will also be called upon to confirm the names of representatives of the members of the functional commissions that have been received since the closing of its organizational session. It is also expected to nominate members for the Committee for Programme and Coordination for election by the Assembly.

Action on Natural Resources

KAREL KOVANDA (Czech Republic) introduced a draft resolution which he sponsored in his capacity as Council Vice-President, on the basis of informal consultations on draft resolution I in the report of the Committee on Natural Resources (document E/1996/31).

By the draft, which concerns integration of key mineral issues into the implementation of Agenda 21 (document E/1996/L.32), the Council would bring to the attention of the Commission on Sustainable Development, relevant United Nations bodies and the regional commissions, an intersessional strategy paper entitled "Towards the sustainable supply of minerals in the context of Agenda 21".

In addition, the Council would note the recommendations for concrete action contained in relevant resolutions of the Committee on Natural Resources and would recommend consideration of means of their implementation, within existing resources, through the relevant priority programmes and by maximizing the opportunities for collaboration among interested parties.

The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said there was some confusion as to which draft was being acted upon -- the original draft in the Committee's report or the subsequent text. He requested that action on the text be deferred for 30 minutes or so.

Mr. KOVANDA (Czech Republic) then introduced a second draft he had sponsored in his capacity as Vice-President of the Council, on the basis of informal consultations on draft resolution II in the Committee's report. It concerns integrated water resources development and management (document E/1996/L.29).

Under its terms, the Council would recommend that governments consider adopting measures designed to improve the efficient use of water resources in the context of sustainable production and consumption patterns and the growing importance of world trade. It would also recommend that governments take

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urgent action on the formulation and implementation of policies for such matters as the management of water resources in large cities and towns; water resource requirements for food production relative to other needs; and the control of pollution from land-based sources.

Also by that text, governments would be recommended to take measures for enhancing national and regional self-sufficiency and capacities for, among others, the operation, maintenance and financing of water resources projects, and that they take measures to strengthen their capabilities in the area of water resources. The Council would also recommend that governments consider, with external support, the possibility of establishing pilot projects on water resources development and management. The international community would be urged to give priority attention to providing governments with technical and financial support to deal with water resource problems.

The representative of the United States requested that action on the text be deferred as matters were "still in a state of play".

The Council President, JEAN MARIE KACOU-GERVAIS (Côte d'Ivoire), then stated that in light of the views expressed, action on those texts would be deferred to a later stage.

Elections

For the Programme Coordination Board of the Joint and Co-sponsored Programme on HIV/AIDS, the Council elected Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Mexico, Norway and Thailand.

Next, the Council took up appointments to the Board of Trustees of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. Before action, the representative of Pakistan announced the withdrawal of his country's candidate.

The Council then appointed Maria Jonas, of Austria, by acclamation. Noelie Kangoye, of Burkina Faso, and Mona Khalaf, of Lebanon, were appointed by secret ballot.

Next, The Council elected Ireland to the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The Council then nominated Austria to the Committee on Programme and Coordination for election by the General Assembly for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 1997.

Next, the Council elected Malaysia and Panama to the Commission on Population and Development for a four-year term beginning on 1 January 1997.

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The election of one member from Asian States and one from Latin American and Caribbean States was postponed.

The Council elected Egypt, Gambia and Malawi to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to serve a three-year term beginning on 1 January 1997.

Next it elected Angola and Ethiopia to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme for a three-year term beginning 1 January 1997.

The Council then elected Panama to a three-year term beginning 1 January 1997 in the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting. Election of one member from African States, two from Asian States and one from Latin American and Caribbean States was postponed.

Next, the Council elected for the Committee on Natural Resources the following: Gustavo Alvarez, from Uruguay; Adel Jalili, from Iran; Mohammad Nawaz Khan, from Pakistan; Carlos Saldivar, from Paraguay; and Carmen de Visbal, from Venezuela. The election of two experts from Asian States, three from Eastern European States, one from Latin American and Caribbean States, and three from Western European and Other States was postponed. Since the full slate of candidates was not available, the Council postponed the drawing of lots to determine terms of office to a future session.

Elected to the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and Energy for Development were the following: Bernard Devin, from France; Daniel Fernandez-Ravetti, from Paraguay; Ahmad Kahrobaian, from Iran; Choon-Ho Kim, from the Republic of Korea; Eduardo Praseli, from Venezuela; and E.V.R Sastry, from India. Election of six experts from African States, one from Asian States, three from Eastern European States, two from Latin American and Caribbean States and two from Western European and Other States was postponed.

The Council confirmed the names of the following representatives of functional commissions submitted since the close of its organizational session, as follows:

-- To serve on the Commission on Population and Development: Ram Aryal (Nepal); Joseph Cassar (Malta); Robert Cliquet (Belgium); Charlotte Hohn (Germany); Jotham Musinguzi (Uganda); and Elina Visuri (Finland);

-- To serve on the Commission for Social Development: Aino-Inkeri Hansson (Finland); Shaheed Rajie (South Africa); Wang Xeuxian (China);

-- To serve on the Commission on the Status of Women: Makiko Arima- Sakai (Japan); Ana Frangoudaki (Greece); and Karin Stoltenberg (Norway);

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-- To serve in the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: Yuki Furuta (Japan); Ferdinand Mayrhofer-Gruenbuehel (Austria); and Stanley Ndlovu (Swaziland); and

-- To serve in the Commission on Human Rights: Wu Jianmin (China).

Introduction of Draft on Decolonization Declaration

ADAM V. DELANY (Papua New Guinea) introduced a draft resolution sponsored by his country and Cuba on implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations (document E/1996/L.42).

Under its terms, the Council would request specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate programmes of assistance to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories.

By other terms of the text, the Council would request administering Powers to facilitate the participation of representatives of Non-Self- Governing Territories in conferences of the agencies and organizations so that they may benefit from the related activities of the specialized agencies. It would also request the Secretary-General to follow implementation of the resolution, paying particular attention to cooperation and integration arrangements for maximizing the efficiency of assistance activities undertaken by the United Nations system.

Further, by the text, the Council would recommend that the executive heads of specialized agencies and organizations formulate proposals for the full implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions for submission to their governing and legislative organs. It would also recommend that specialized agencies review the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions. Finally, the Council would encourage Non-Self-Governing Territories to establish and strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies.

The representatives of Lebanon, United Republic of Tanzania and Syria asked to be added as co-sponsors of the drafts.

Action

Next, the Council considered a draft resolution concerning assistance for the reconstruction and development of Lebanon (document E/1996/L.28).

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Under the provisions of that text, the Council would appeal to Member States and the United Nations system to increase the disbursement of grants and soft loans for the reconstruction and development of Lebanon. It would request donor countries to participate in the work of the consultative group, now being formed, on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Lebanon. It would call upon the United Nations system to support national capacity- building and institutional renewal in Lebanon and would request the Secretary- General to report to it on implementation of the draft at its 1997 substantive session.

The draft is sponsored by Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Paraguay, Poland, Tunisia, Uganda and the United States.

The representatives of Cuba and the Sudan joined in co-sponsoring the text.

The representative of Lebanon introduced a revision to the text by which the international community would be requested to consider increasing all forms of support, including financial grants and soft loans. In particular, donor countries would be requested to play a part in the consultative group on the reconstruction of Lebanon. He said that the representative of Papua New Guinea had asked to be added as a co-sponsor.

The Council adopted the resolution on assistance to Lebanon, as orally revised, without a vote.

Next, the Council took up a draft resolution on strengthening of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations (document E/1996/L.33).

It would have the Council request the Secretary-General to submit to its 1997 substantive session recommendations for a strengthening of all aspects of the United Nations system capacity for humanitarian assistance. It would also call upon the Inter-Agency Standing Committee to adopt clear work plans, and call upon the Department of Humanitarian Affairs to provide a conference room paper on the status of the Committee's work.

The draft is sponsored by Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Switzerland and the United States.

The representative of Belarus asked to be added as a co-sponsor.

The resolution on strengthening of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations was adopted without a vote.

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The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, thanked the Council for adopting that text.

The draft resolution on the follow-up to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was then taken up (document E/1996/L.38).

It would have the Council note that the procedure for election of the members of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was not consistent with the established procedure of electing members of committees under other human rights treaty bodies. The Council would recommend to States parties to the Covenant that they consider amending it to provide for its follow-up by a committee whose members would be elected by its States parties. It would also request the Secretary-General to consult the States parties to the Covenant on holding a meeting to consider the implementation of the draft.

The text is sponsored by Costa Rica, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries.

Speaking on behalf of the Group of 77, the representative of Costa Rica announced a revision of the text. The two last preambular paragraphs would be replaced by the following: "Aware of the provisions concerning the follow-up and monitoring of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights" and "Noting that the provisions concerning the follow-up and monitoring of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are not consistent with those in other rights treaties".

The representative of the United States requested the Secretariat to scrutinize the text to see whether there would be any additional programme budget implications.

Action on that text was deferred.

The Council then took up a draft resolution on the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (document E/1996/L.36).

Under its provisions, the Council would call upon States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute through voluntary contributions and pledges to the Institute's Trust Fund. The Council would commend the work of the Institute on issues addressing the economic and political empowerment of women; statistics and indicators in gender issues; women, natural resources and sustainable development; and issues related to the elderly, displaced, refugees and migrant women.

In addition, the Council would commend the Institute for its efforts to further develop cooperation with specialized and related agencies of the United Nations system. It would also reiterate the importance of maintaining

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the level of resources devoted to independent research and training activities that are crucial to the empowerment of women.

The draft is sponsored by Guatemala, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria and Turkey.

The representative of Guatemala announced that Bangladesh, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Mongolia, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire had been added as co-sponsors of the text.

He also announced the addition of a new preambular paragraph as follows: "Takes note of the analysis undertaken by the Board of Trustees ... of the Second and Third Committees of the General Assembly under relevant agenda items, in order to improve the coordination and synergy of its programmes with other economic and social issues." He also announced the deletion of operative paragraph 5, by which the Council would have reiterated that the Institute should report to the Assembly's Second Committee (Economic and Financial) in order to improve the synergy of its programmes with other economic and social issues.

The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that the Institute should establish its priorities on areas central to its mandate without overlapping with work being done elsewhere.

Action on that draft was deferred.

Next, the Council took up a draft resolution on the system-wide medium- term plan for the advancement of women, 1996-2001 (document E/1996/L.37).

Under its provisions, the Council would endorse the revised system-wide plan, taking into account the comments of the Commission on the Status of Women, and the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination. The Council would request bodies of the United Nations system to implement the revised plan in light of those views.

The Inter-agency Committee on Women and Gender Equality of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) would be invited to use the revised plan and comments on it as a basis for monitoring increasing collaboration in the United Nations system activities for the advancement and empowerment of women. It would also be invited to inform the Commission on the Status of Women and the Council of progress in its work for the purpose of system-wide coordination.

Further, by the draft, the Council would decide to undertake, in 1998, a comprehensive mid-term review of the implementation of the revised plan as a basis for future programming and coordination of activities for the advancement of women. It would request the Secretary-General to submit to it,

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through the Commission at its forty-second session, a progress report on the implementation of the plan; and to formulate a new system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women to cover the period 2002-2005 for presentation to the Council at its substantive session in the year 2000.

The draft is sponsored by Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden.

The representative of Bahamas announced that Belgium, Italy, Iceland and Turkey had joined in sponsoring the text.

The resolution on the system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women, 1996-2001 was adopted without a vote.

The Council next considered a draft decision on dates of sessions of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies in 1997 (document E/1996/L.31).

That draft would have the Council approve changes in the dates of Council sessions and the sessions of its subsidiary bodies in 1997. The Council would approve that its substantive session of 1997 be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 30 June to 25 July.

It would also approve the following meetings of the Executive Board of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to be held at Headquarters in 1997: the first regular session from 20 to 24 January; second regular session from 17 to 21 March; annual session from 2 to 6 June; and third regular session from 8 to 12 September.

Also, it would approve the following meetings of the Executive Board of the World Food Programme to be held at Rome in 1997: first regular session on 22 January; second regular session from 22 to 24 May; annual session from 27 to 30 May; and third regular session from 21 to 24 October.

The Council would also approve the annual session for 1997 of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from 12 to 23 May.

Included among the dates for sessions of other bodies that it would approve would be the dates for the sessions of the Commission on Narcotics Drugs, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Sustainable Development, Commission on Human Settlements and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. In addition, the Council would approve the dates for the sessions of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

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The representative of the United States asked for assurance that the draft would have no programme budget implications.

The text was adopted without a vote.

The Council then returned to the two drafts on integration of key mineral issues into the implementation of Agenda 21; and that on integrated water resources development and management. They were both adopted without a vote.

Two draft decisions proposed by the Committee on Natural Resources were before the Council for action. They would have it take note of the Committee's report and provisional agenda for its fourth session; and decide that future sessions of the Committee should be eight working days in length (document E/1996/31).

The Council Vice-President, Mr. KOVANDA (Czech Republic), said the latter text should be modified with a provision stating that it would be "subject to any changes that may be required, taking into account the review of the role and working methods of the committee and its relationship with other bodies in the context of its implementation of General Assembly resolution 50/227".

The texts were adopted without a vote.

On behalf of the European Union, Ireland's representative said he wished to place on record the Union's appreciation of the efforts of Mr. Kovanda (Czech Republic) for his efforts.

The Council then took up an 111-Power draft resolution on international cooperation in the field of informatics (document E/1996/L.27).

That draft would have the Council request its President to convene for one more year, within existing resources, the ad hoc open-ended working group on the need to harmonize and improve United Nations information systems for optimal utilization and accessibility by all States. The Secretary-General would be requested to extend full cooperation to the working group and report on the follow-up action taken in response to the resolution. Also by the draft, the Council would reiterate the high priority it attached to unhindered access for permanent missions to the growing number of computerized databases and information systems and services of the United Nations.

The draft is sponsored by Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic,

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Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Mr. KOVANDA (Czech Republic) said Belarus and Oman had joined in co- sponsoring the text, which he said had undergone minor modifications. He introduced those oral revisions to the draft.

The resolution on international cooperation in the field of informatics was then adopted without a vote as orally revised.

AHMAD KAMAL (Pakistan), Chairman of the ad hoc open-ended working group, expressed appreciation for the resolution's adoption, and thanked the many delegations which had sponsored the text, underlining the importance of the working group's work. "There shall be no let up in the momentum of work of the working group and that of its technical sub-group." He urged the representatives of all States, especially developing countries, to support the work of the working group.

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