ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL APPROVES MEASURES ON AIDS, YOUTH, ANTI-RACISM CONFERENCE, CONSUMER PROTECTION, OTHER MATTERS
Press Release
ECOSOC/5736
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL APPROVES MEASURES ON AIDS, YOUTH, ANTI-RACISM CONFERENCE, CONSUMER PROTECTION, OTHER MATTERS
19970724 (Reissued as received.)GENEVA, 23 July (UN Information Service) -- The Economic and Social Council adopted this morning a series of resolutions and decisions on topics ranging from the Joint and Co-Sponsored United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to support for world conferences on youth and on combatting racism. Most of the measures were called for in reports submitted by subsidiary bodies.
Amendments proposed by the United States to provide the option of holding a special session of the General Assembly on racism and racial discrimination, rather than a world conference, was rejected by a roll-call vote of 1 in favour and 27 opposed, with 21 abstaining.
The measure on youth, among other things, welcomed the offer of the Government of Portugal to host an August 1998 world conference of ministers responsible for youth and a third session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, also in August 1998.
Also adopted was a resolution calling for continued efforts to implement effectively United Nations guidelines for consumer protection and to continue further work on the elaboration of guidelines to cover sustainable consumption patterns. The Council requested the Secretary-General to undertake this work through the convening of an interregional expert group meeting.
In addition, the Council decided to postpone taking action on three draft decisions submitted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Council will reconvene at 3 p.m. to continue action on draft decisions and resolutions.
Action on Resolutions and Decisions: HIV/AIDS
In a resolution on HIV/AIDS (E/1997/L.46), the Council urged co-sponsors of the Joint and Co-Sponsored United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to strengthen their commitment to the response to the epidemic by integrating HIV/AIDS components throughout their operational activities; requested co-sponsoring organizations and the Programme to disseminate clear guidance to country-level staff on the role and functions of the United Nations theme groups on HIV/AIDS; requested the United Nations funds and programmes and specialized agencies to ensure effective coordination of activities in the context of the resident coordinator system; urged the co-sponsors to share costs for effective support of the theme groups; appealed to all to broaden their programme activities to cover all aspects of the epidemic; and urged all donors to continue their support and those not contributing substantially to increase their support of the Programme.
Cartography
The Council endorsed a recommendation that the Seventh United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference for the Americas (see document E/1997/82) should be convened for five working days no later than early 2001, with a primary focus on the continued and strengthened contribution of surveying, mapping, and charting in support of the implementation of Agenda 21.
The Council also decided to request the Secretary-General to promote, with the assistance of some member States of the region, an ongoing dialogue between member States and other stakeholders to ensure the implementation of the resolutions of the Sixth United Nations Regional Cartographic Conference of the Americas.
Consumer Protection
The Council adopted a resolution on Consumer Protection (document E/1997/L.39) which urged Member States, other entities of the United Nations system and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue efforts to implement effectively the United Nations guidelines for consumer protection and to continue further work on the elaboration of guidelines to cover sustainable consumption patterns and other areas. The Council requested the Secretary-General to undertake this work through the convening of an interregional expert group meeting, to be financed by extrabudgetary resources; it recommended that the meeting elaborate specific guidelines for sustainable consumption patterns for submission to the Council.
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Regional Economic Commissions
In a resolution on the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in the context of reform of the United Nations (see document E/1997/40/Add.1), the Council took note with satisfaction of the progress made by the Secretariat in fulfilling the instructions of the Commission's resolution 553 (XXVI), particularly with regard to institutional matters and management improvement and the coordination of activities with other organizations in order to maintain the Commission's validity and relevance in the face of evolving circumstances; further noted with satisfaction the work carried out by the ad hoc working group established in response to resolution 553; urged the working group to ensure that the activities carried out by the Secretariat were based on the priorities established; supported the general thrust of the management pilot scheme developed by the Commission; concurred with the general thrust of the Secretariat's strategic proposal on deployment of human resources; and recommended, as reform of the United Nations proceeded, that a clear division of responsibilities should be established with regard to regional activities in Latin America and the Caribbean between the Commission and the programmes, agencies, and funds of other representatives of the United Nations system and regional intergovernmental organizations, so that appropriate coordination and mutual reinforcement of their respective activities could be assured.
Youth
The Council passed a resolution on implementation of the world programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond, including a world conference of ministers responsible for youth (see documents E/1997/26 and E/1997/L.29) in which it stressed again the importance of the active and direct participation of youth and youth organizations at the local, national, regional and international levels in promoting and implementing the Programme of Action; welcomed the offer of the government of Portugal to host a world conference of ministers responsible for youth, to be held in Lisbon from 1 to 12 August, 1998, in cooperation with the United Nations; invited all states, youth-related bodies, organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to support the conference; and welcomed the holding of the third session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, to be convened in partnership with the Portuguese National Youth Council at Braga, Portugal, from 3 to 7 August 1998.
Follow-up to World Conferences
In a resolution on the first regional meeting convened by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean to evaluate the World Summit for Social Development (see document E/1997/41), the Council welcomed the convening of the meeting; expressed appreciation for the final document of the session, known as the "Sao Paulo Consensus", in which the signatories
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undertook, inter alia, commitments related to the implementation of the Programme of Action of the World Summit; and invited other regions to convene their respective evaluation meetings on the Summit.
Human Rights
In a decision on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance (see document E/1997/23, draft decision 38), the Council approved the Commission's requests to the Secretary-General to submit a detailed report on the financial and personnel resources required for the implementation of the Programme of Action of the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination; to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to take duly into account, within the restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights, the repeated appeals for establishment of a mechanism for coordinating Third Decade activities; and to the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all needed to carry out his mandate. The Council also further recommends to the General Assembly the convening of a world conference on racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, with the main objectives as stipulated by Commission resolution 1997/74.
An amendment tabled by the United States that would have offered the option of the holding of a General Assembly special session on the matter, rather than a world conference, was rejected by a roll-call vote of 1 in favour (the United States), 27 opposed, with 21 abstaining.
The vote was as follows:
In favour: United States.
Opposed: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Djibouti, Gabon, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Zambia.
Abstaining: Australia, Belarus, Canada, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
Statements
ANTONIO JOSE MARTINS SEGURO, Secretary of State for Youth of Portugal, said the First World Conference of Ministers of Youth, which Portugal was willing to host in cooperation with the United Nations in August 1998, aimed at enriching the debate on the problems of young people and provide guidelines to deepen the implementation of the Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and beyond. The success of that Conference would depend on the
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solidarity of those who persisted against all odds in improving the living conditions of the young, and in the promotion of a fruitful cooperation at the local, national, regional and international levels. The process of preparing the Conference would enjoy the participation of all countries and intergovernmental organizations and would be open to non-governmental organizations and to national and regional youth councils. The Conference should adopt a Declaration conveying guidelines to meet unemployment, drug, health, educational and participation challenges. Portugal wanted this Conference to make a meaningful step in the struggle against unemployment, poverty, drug and disease. It should also reaffirm and uphold the values of peace, freedom, tolerance and respect for human rights.
HENRI SCHUMACHER (Luxembourg), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the Union was pleased with the follow-up by the regional commission of various United Nations conferences. The Union, however, did not wish to see, in the Council or in the General Assembly, a proliferation of the type of text now before delegates.
MARTHA DUENAS LOZA, Acting Director of the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), presented the report of the Board of Trustees of INSTRAW for its programme of activities for the 1996-1997 biennium. She said the activities of INSTRAW during this period had been characterized by events related to changes of global scope at both the economic and social levels; events resulting from the policy decisions, mandates and plans of action proclaimed by the different United Nations conferences; and concrete issues related to the implementation of INSTRAW's 1996 work programme.
Ms. DUENAS LOZA said INSTRAW's research and training programmes were directly linked to the major concerns of the international community expressed in United Nations conferences. INSTRAW had taken several and very significant initiatives to review its work programme and develop a programme for implementing those aspects of the Beijing Platform for Action that fell within its mandate. The Institute was committed to the undertaking of research and training activities that could contribute to the finding of adequate solutions to problems that severely hampered the advancement of women as equal partners in sustainable development.
AMINE EL KHAZEN (Lebanon) said it wished to comment on decisions related to the peace process in the Middle East and on human rights and terrorism. Lebanon's unshakeable position on the Madrid peace process had not changed: it remained based on the principle of land for peace. A lasting peace in the Middle East could not be realized as long as Israel continued to occupy south Lebanon, the Golan and West Bekaa. Lebanon objected to the text of the draft decision on the Middle East peace process because it did not refer to the relevant Security Council resolutions, which, among other things, called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon. On the matter of
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terrorism, it had to be combatted in the same matter in which the international community combatted organized crime; but "terrorism" had to be defined clearly -- "terrorism" did not mean legitimate acts of resistance to foreign occupation. Lebanon insisted on its right to battle Israeli occupation of its territory.
ALI McHUMO (United Republic of Tanzania), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said the group was "extremely concerned" about attempts to re-open two resolutions adopted by the Commission on holding a world conference on racism and on the follow-up to the work of the Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Racial discrimination was one of the most flagrant and grave violations of the Charter of the United Nations. Unfortunately, despite much effort, United Nations action to combat racial discrimination had not yet yielded the desired goals. The challenge facing the world was huge, and there was a need to turn attention to the task of organizing for the world conference, which should be convened no later than the year 2001.
NATHAN IRUMBA (Uganda) said the Delegation begged to differ as to whether world conferences had been held too often and had led to a decline in their value and impact; where there was the will they had had great impact. Uganda saw value in a world conference on combatting racism. During the Commission on Human Rights all options had been explored and a decision reached; Uganda hence opposed the American Amendments.
SYLVIE SCHOSSELER (Luxembourg), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the group remained entirely devoted to combating racism. The European Union had not opposed the resolution on racism at the fifty-third session of the Commission, except for the principle of the world conference. Such world conferences imposed considerable constraints on the United Nations and its Members. The European Union would abstain from the vote, as it did not believe the Council was the appropriate framework to discuss the issues of substance in the resolution.
ROSS HYNES (Canada) said preparations for a world conference on racism should be undertaken with due concern for the funding situation of the United Nations and Member States and should be held from within existing resources. Canada further felt that funds for such a conference should not come from those earmarked for implementation of existing programmes. Canada would abstain from the vote on the relevant decision before the Council.
BERNADETTE SIELY (Australia) said Australia abhorred racism and believed the United Nations should take measures to combat that scourge. Australia would abstain on the vote, even though it shared concerns regarding the cost of the world conference, and believed a special session of the General Assembly could achieve the same results at less cost.
SETH WINNICK (United States) said improving race relations, crucial to the country, and benefitted from great Government effort. The United States believed in the United Nationss efforts to provide a forum on racism and racial intolerance; but it believed there were more productive ways of fighting the problem, such as through a special session of the General Assembly. What was needed was not more words, but more action.
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