FULL EMPLOYMENT SHOULD BE PERMANENT GOAL OF PUBLIC, PRIVATE SECTOR AND WELFARE SYSTEM, DRAFT INTRODUCED IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STATES

5 March 1997

Press Release
SOC/4423

FULL EMPLOYMENT SHOULD BE PERMANENT GOAL OF PUBLIC, PRIVATE SECTOR AND WELFARE SYSTEM, DRAFT INTRODUCED IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION STATES

19970305 Six Other Texts Introduced Concern Older Persons; Disabled People, Including Children; Youth; Family

A call for the implementation of economic and social policies based on the understanding that the public sector, the private sector and the welfare system have a shared interest in and responsibility for employment, and that the achievement of full employment should be a permanent goal for all of them, is among a set of guiding principles on employment contained in a draft resolution introduced by Argentina in the Commission for Social Development this afternoon.

That draft was one of seven texts introduced under the Commission's consideration of follow-up to the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, focusing on the priority theme of productive employment and sustainable livelihoods, and its review of United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups.

Also by that draft resolution on productive employment and sustainable livelihoods (document E/CN.5/1997/L.5), the Commission would decide, as part of the set of general guiding principles relating to employment, that the goal of full employment should be based on the effort to ensure the dignity and worth of the human being and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Further by the text, the Commission would assert that economic growth and increased productivity, which were essential factors for increasing employment, and particularly those economic activities which were likely to generate higher employment, should receive the proper attention from the sectors involved. Workers must be provided with education, training and appropriate guidance in order to a secure employment and better working conditions in a competitive market, another principle would state. Also, research on employment and on unemployment were an additional tool that could make an important contribution to economic and social policies.

The Commission would call for promotion of the right kind of flexibility in the labour market and would state that non-governmental organizations and social welfare agencies should be encouraged and supported. The Commission would also adopt the principle that exchanges of experience concerning employment and employment policies in various countries should be promoted and reviewed periodically by the United Nations.

The representative of the Dominican Republica introduced two draft resolutions. The first draft resolution (document E/CN.5/1997/L.7) on the International Year of Older Persons is submitted by the Commission's Ad Hoc Working Group on the Fourth Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing and Preparations for the International Year of Older Persons for adoption by the General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council. It would have the Assembly encourage all States, the United Nations system and all other actors, to take advantage of the International Year to increase awareness of various aspects of the issue. It would invite States to take account of the increasing number and percentage of older persons in need of help; and encourage States to establish a national focal point, as well as formulate national programmes for the Year, bearing in mind the conceptual framework referred to in General Assembly resolution 50/141.

The Assembly would also invite States to consider convening high-level and other meetings at a regional level to discuss the theme of "A society for all ages", and emphasize that activities for the Year should be initiated primarily at the national level. The Assembly would invite national and international development agencies, bodies and international financial institutions to explore feasible approaches to improving the access of older persons to credit, training and appropriate technologies for income generation.

Also by the draft, the Secretary-General would be requested to report to the Assembly on the system-wide implementation of the resolution, and to officially launch the International Year for Older Persons in 1998 on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons. The Assembly would decide to devote four plenary meetings at its fifty-fourth session to the follow-up to the Year, at an appropriate global policy-making level. The Department of Public Information (DPI) would be invited to consider producing a logo and press kit, as well as an exhibit, for the Year. The United Nations Postal Administration would be invited to consider producing stamps on the theme "A society for all ages".

The second draft introduced by the representative of the Dominican Republic concerns the fourth review and appraisal of the International Plan of Action on Ageing (document E/CN.5/1997/L.8) and is also submitted by the working group. Under its provisions, the Commission would recommend that

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henceforth the United Nations Principles for Older Persons be annexed to publications of the International Plan of Action on Ageing. It would invite the Secretary-General to make recommendations on different options for the future review and appraisal of the implementation of the Plan.

Introduced by Sweden and also sponsored by Canada, Finland, Norway and Denmark, a draft resolution on equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities (document E/CN.5/1997/L.9) would have the Commission recommend to the Economic and Social Council for adoption a text urging the United Nations, governments and non-governmental organizations to strengthen implementation of the goal of full participation and equality for persons with disabilities. The Council would also urge the Secretary-General and governments to give full attention to a gender perspective in all policies and programmes related to disability. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other entities of the United Nations system, including the World Bank and inter- agency mechanisms, would be requested to mainstream disability issues in their development activities and in their efforts to eradicate poverty.

By other terms of that draft, the Council would decide to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on disability for a further period of three years, to enable the continuation of the monitoring of the implementation of the Standard Rules, and to request the Special Rapporteur to prepare a report for the Commission at its thirty-eighth session. It would further request the Special Rapporteur to pay special attention to the situation of children with disabilities when monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules.

In addition, the Council would also request the Secretary-General to invite United Nations bodies to provide advisory services and support to governments in their efforts to develop disability policies based on the Standard Rules. He would also be requested to ensure that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies take into account the rights of disabled children in implementing their programmes.

Introduced by the representative of the Philippines, a nine-Power draft on children with disabilities (document E/CN.5.1996/L.10) would have the Commission recommend through the Economic and Social Council for adoption by the Assembly a text under which it would encourage governments to promote and protect the rights, special needs and welfare of children with disabilities. The Assembly would also urge governments to provide free access to education for children with disabilities; to integrate disability issues within the regular education curriculum and to mainstream disabled children in school systems; and also to provide vocational training for children with disabilities.

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The Assembly would request the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to continue its programme activities aimed at integrating disabled children into mainstream education in line with the Salamanca Declaration adopted at the World Conference on Special Needs Education: Access and Quality (Salamanca, Spain, June 1994). It would also request UNESCO to assist governments in designing and setting up programmes to encourage the potential of children with disabilities.

The Assembly would request United Nations agencies and non-governmental agencies to establish indicators to facilitate monitoring implementation of the Standard Rules as they apply to children with disabilities. It would also decide to consult with international organizations during the thirty-sixth session of the Commission for Social Development on how to improve the application of the Standard Rules.

Further by the draft, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to compile the provisions of existing conventions, resolutions and other resource material with respect to the rights and needs of disabled children for submission to the Commission at its thirty-sixth session. The Council would also request the Special Rapporteur on disability to pay special attention to the situation of children with disabilities and to work with the Committee on the Rights of the Child for monitoring article 23 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The draft is sponsored by Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Mongolia, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland and Sudan.

A draft resolution sponsored and introduced by Cuba on the holding of the first session of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in cooperation with the United Nations and in pursuance of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond (document E/CN.5/1997/L.11) would have the Commission welcome the offer of the Government of Portugal to host the Conference at Lisbon, from 8 to 12 August 1998. The Commission would call upon Member States, United Nations agencies and other organizations to support the Conference and would request that the report of the Conference be submitted to the General Assembly.

Another draft resolution, sponsored by Cuba and Sudan, who introduced the text, concerns the follow-up to the International Year of the Family (document E/CN.5/1997/L.12). It would have the Commission recommend for adoption by the Assembly through the Council, a text under which it would decide that the Commission's follow-up to the International Year of the Family should be an integrated part of its multi-year work programme of the Commission for Social Development. It would also decide that the Commission should annually consider the topic of reconciling family life and work under its "social integration" priority theme.

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The draft would also have the Assembly request the Secretary-General to enable the Secretariat to play an active role in facilitating international cooperation on the family in the areas of experience and information exchange; technical assistance; regional and subregional meetings; and the promotion of research. The Secretariat would be requested to enhance the resources of the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities and governments, and organizations would be called upon to contribute generously to the Trust Fund.

The Commission will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 6 March, to continue its deliberations.

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