ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL RECONSTITUTES FOUR SUBSIDIARY BODIES; ELECTIONS TO BE HELD AT RESUMED 1998 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION
Press Release
ECOSOC/5796
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL RECONSTITUTES FOUR SUBSIDIARY BODIES; ELECTIONS TO BE HELD AT RESUMED 1998 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION
19980731 Adopts Suggested Guidelines for Addressing Year 2000 Problem of Computers; Elects Finland to Sustainable Development Commission, India to Board of HIV/AIDSFour subsidiary bodies of the Economic and Social Council -- the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Committee for Development Planning, the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development, and the Committee on Natural Resources -- are to be reconstituted under a draft resolution adopted without a vote by the Council this morning.
By the action on further measures to restructure and revitalize the United Nations in the economic, social and cultural fields, the Council decided to hold, at its resumed substantive session of 1998, elections for the composition of the bodies, so that they would be fully constituted from 1 January 1999. By a related resolution, the Council decided to terminate, as of 31 December 1998, the current membership of those bodies.
According to a statement by the Secretary-General on the programme budget implications, the resolution would lead to an estimated reduction in requirements of $152,900 during the biennium 1998-1999. He proposed that the reduced requirements be reflected in the first performance report of the 1998- 1999 programme budget.
By the Council's action on the subsidiary bodies,
-- the membership of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development would be reduced from 53 to 33, with the following geographic distribution: eight members from African States; seven from Asian States; six from Latin America and the Caribbean; four from Eastern Europe, and eight from Western European and Other States. The Commission would remain a functional commission of the Council, with members holding office for four years.
-- the Committee for Development Planning shall be renamed the Committee for Development Policy and shall continue to be a subsidiary body of the Council. It shall comprise 24 independent experts with a good mix of expertise, serving for three years. The membership would include those able to contribute on emerging issues and to the multilateral process. The experts
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would be nominated by the Secretary-General, after consultation with interested governments, and approved by the Council.
-- the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development and the Committee on Natural Resources would be merged into a single expert body to be named the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development which would serve as a subsidiary body of the Council. The geographical distribution would be as follows: six members from African States; five from Asia; four from Latin American and the Caribbean; three from Eastern Europe and; six from Western European and Other States. The term of office would be for four years.
In another action, the Council adopted suggested guidelines for addressing the year 2000 problem of computers, by which governments would establish general contingency plans for all systems and activities. In case the year 2000 compliance could not be achieved before 31 December 1999, some critical systems might have to be temporarily decommissioned and replaced by the back-up processes, according to the guidelines, which also called for an awareness campaign targeted towards small businesses and local governments.
Also among the seven draft resolutions it adopted, the Council:
-- Invited the Secretary-General to make recommendations on the possible themes that could be discussed at the Council's working-level meetings of the operational activities segment for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001, taking into account the necessary preparatory work for the following triennial policy review;
-- Urged the Commission on the Status of Women to continue to provide suggestions to the Council and its subsidiary bodies, in particular to other functional commissions, on further measures to implement the strategy of gender mainstreaming. It also decided to pay particular attention to the feminization of poverty, its causes and remedies when reviewing the theme of poverty eradication in 1999, and to ensure a gender perspective when reviewing the implementation and follow-up of major United Nations conferences and summits;
-- Reiterated that poverty eradication and improving living conditions of people everywhere are key development objectives of the Council's efforts to ensure integrated and coordinated follow-up to conferences. It also reiterated the importance of mobilizing new and additional resources to implement conference outcomes; and
-- Requested the Director of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), in cooperation with its Board of Trustees, to present to the Council a detailed analysis of the reasons for and implications for the Institute of its financial and staffing
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situations, including an up-to-date balance sheet of its finances and reserves and of all the steps taken to strengthen its financing and staffing situation.
Among other actions taken this morning, the Council:
-- Decided to continue consideration of the issue of the review of the distribution of seats in the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP), and to postpone action on a draft resolution entitled "Input to the implementation of General Assembly resolution 50/8" to a resumed substantive session of the Council in September or October 1998;
-- Decided to hold an informal meeting with panels of experts immediately after its resumed organizational session for 1999 to consider work being carried out by the United Nations system and other relevant international and national institutions on basic indicators to measure progress towards the implementation of the major United Nations conferences and summits;
-- Approved a recommendation of the Commission on Human Rights to publish and widely disseminate the final report of the special rapporteur on human rights and popular transfer; and
-- Decided that no action was required on a request of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on scheduling a meeting of an ad hoc working group in April 1998, given the fact that the dates for that meeting had passed.
The Council also approved the following changes in the dates of sessions of its subsidiary bodies in 1999:
-- Intersessional and ad hoc open-ended working groups of the Commission on Sustainable Development, to meet at Headquarters, from 22 to 26 February and from 1 to 5 March; -- Commission on the Status of Women, forty-third session, to meet at Headquarters, from 1 to 19 March;
-- Commission on Population and Development, thirty-second session, to meet at Headquarters, from 22 to 30 March;
-- Commission on Human Rights, fifty-fifth session, to meet at the United Nations Office at Geneva, from 22 March to 30 April; and
-- Commission on Science and Technology for Development, fourth session, to meet at the United Nations Office at Geneva, from 17 to 21 May.
Also this morning, the Council adopted draft agreed conclusions contained in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action on human rights by which, among other things, it reaffirmed the need for increased coordination in support of human rights and fundamental freedoms within United Nations system.
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It elected Finland to replace Sweden on the Commission on Sustainable Development for a term beginning on the date of election and expiring at the close of the Commission's session in 1999. The Council elected India for a three-year term to the Programme Coordination Board of the Joint and Co-Sponsored United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, effective 1 January 1999.
Statements were made by representatives of Nicaragua, Lebanon, Japan, United States, Indonesia (on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China), India, Austria (on behalf of the European Union), Lithuania (on behalf of Eastern European States), Brazil, Syria, Germany, Canada, Russian Federation, China, Cuba and Nigeria.
The Council will meet again at 3:30 p.m. today to continue its consideration of the utilization of the development dividend and privileges and immunities of the special rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights.
Council Work Programme
The Economic and Social Council met this morning to conclude its considerations of operational activities of the United Nations for international development cooperation and take action on related draft resolutions and reports. It was also expected to take up coordination policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other bodies of the United Nations related to the coordinated follow-up to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action on Human Rights. It would take action on related draft proposals as well.
The Council, in addition, would consider reports and draft texts on the items on coordination, programme and other questions, economic and environmental questions, and social and human rights questions, as well as act on organizational matters.
Statements
ENRIQUE PAGUAGA FERNANDEZ (Nicaragua) said he wanted to refer to the voting process that took place yesterday on the draft proposals contained in the extracts from the report of the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty- fourth session. His delegation had inadvertently voted against the draft decisions on the adverse effects of mercenary activities on the right to self- determination of peoples, and on the problems and solutions to illicit movement and dumping of toxic and dangerous products and wastes. It meant to have voted in favour of those texts. Also, his delegation had abstained in the vote on human rights and terrorism, and it now wished to change that to a vote in favour of the decision.
HICHAM HAMDAN (Lebanon) said his delegation would have voted in favour of the text on the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
Operational Activities
The Council took up the draft decision on operational activities of the United Nations for international development cooperation segment (document E/1998/L.43), submitted by the Vice-President of the Council, Roble Olhaye (Djibouti).
By the terms of the draft, the Economic and Social Council stressed the importance of the continued participation of the specialized agencies and regional commissions of the United Nations system, and the ongoing collaboration with the World Bank, in operational activities on the basis of national priorities of the recipient countries. In a series of requests to the Secretary-General, the Council requested of him, when finalizing his report on the triennial policy review of operational activities for the next
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session of the General Assembly, to take into account the views and comments expressed by States during the operational activities of the segment of the Council; to consider implications of the implementation of United Nations reform on those operations.
The Committee adopted the draft text without a vote.
WATARU NISHIGAHIRO (Japan), speaking after adoption of the text, said his delegation attached great importance to the Council's role in guiding the United Nations development system and in that body's participation in the triennial policy review. It was unfortunate that the resolution did not provide substantive guidance to the Organization's development system. Japan strongly hoped that consideration of the Review at the upcoming General Assembly would be a substantive one.
SETH WINNICK (United States) said the elements of the resolution had his delegation's full support. The draft could however, have gone much further in its guidance to the Secretary-General. In resolution 50/227, the General Assembly reinforced the role of the Council in providing overall coordination and guidance in operational development programmes and funds on a system-wide basis. This year, the Council was better positioned than it had ever been to help guide the first steps of the triennial policy review process. Negotiations, however, had been long and arduous and in the end, there was no agreement on taking up the challenge of resolution 50/227. His delegation hoped that when the Assembly took up the review in the fall, it would do so in a spirit of partnership. MOCHAMAD SLAMET HIDAYAT (Indonesia), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the issue in the resolution did not provide for easy negotiation. It would, however, set the context for considerations in the upcoming Assembly. While the resolution was not exactly what was desired, it was good, nevertheless. The important issue of financial resources was not addressed in a sufficient manner. For the Group, there were two important issues -- the role of technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC), economic cooperation among developing countries (ECDC), and the role of regional commissions in the context of the triennial policy review. GAUTUM MUKHOPADHAYA (India) said the resolution would provide the necessary guidance for further deliberations. It was hoped that the Secretary-General at the General Assembly would address the aspect of funding operational activities at a level commensurate with developing countries. Predictable, adequate funding was the only way to address the funds and programmes of the United Nations. Current negotiations in executive boards of funds and programmes would result in positive developments. He believed that a most important paragraph of the text was the one calling on the Secretary- General to utilize the capacities in the developing countries themselves. That applied to operational activities as well as humanitarian activities.
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ALOISIA WORGETTER (Austria), on behalf of the European Union, thanked Rolando Bahamondes of Canada for his efforts on the resolution.
RYTIS PAULAUSKAS (Lithuania) introduced a draft decision by which the Council would continue consideration of the issue of the review of the distribution of seats in the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP) with a view to arriving at recommendation to the General Assembly during a resumed substantive session of the Council but no later than by the beginning of the substantive work of the Second Committee of the General Assembly at its fifty-third session (document E/1998/L.45). It would also postpone action to a resumed substantive session of the Council in September or October.
Mr. PAULAUSKAS (Lithuania), speaking on behalf of Eastern European States, he said it would be difficult for their group to defer consideration of the matter in the Council any later than the time indicated in the draft. He pointed out that the group was still committed to the General Assembly consensus resolutions 48/162 and 50/8 that provided for the distribution of seats in the Executive Boards of the United Nations operational funds and programmes. The group chose not to insist on the letter of resolution 50/8 that gave clear guidance as to what the final outcome of the review should be. The Eastern European States were willing to accommodate the concerns of the other regional groups in a compromise solution which they believed could be reached soon. They hoped for the understanding and reciprocity of the other groups.
The Council then adopted the draft decision.
The Council went on to take note of the following documents:
-- report of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on its first regular session of 1998 (document 1998/12 and Corr.1 and 2), and the decisions taken at that session at (document DP/1998/13); at its second regular session of 1998 (document DP/1998/16 and Corr.1) and
-- its 1998 annual session (document DP/1998/28), as well as the annual reports of the UNDP Administrator and the UNFPA Executive Director to the Council (document E/1998/45)
-- report of the Executive Board of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on its first regular session of 1998 (E/1998/35 (Part I)), decisions taken by the Board at its 1998 annual session (document E/1998.L.11), annual report of the UNICEF Executive Director to the Council (document E/1998/16) and a note on the resource mobilization strategy for UNICEF (document E/1998/70); and report of the WFP Executive Board (document E/1998/37), and the annual report of the Executive Director to the Council (document E/1998/62).
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Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
The Council then took up the draft agreed conclusions dealing with the coordinated follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action E/1998/L.23 submitted by the Vice-President of the Council, Francesco Paloso Fulci (Italy).
By the agreed conclusions on the Vienna Declaration the Council would reaffirm the need for increased coordination in support of human rights and fundamental freedoms within the United Nations system. To that end, all United Nations organs, bodies and specialized agencies whose activities dealt with human rights shall cooperate in order to strengthen, rationalize and streamline their activities. The Council would welcome the fact that human rights are increasingly being promoted throughout the United Nations system. It would also reaffirm the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for coordinating human rights promotion and protection activities throughout the United Nations system and support her efforts to promote intra-system cooperation and coordination in that area.
The Council would call upon functional commissions, as well as the regional commissions and other organs, bodies and specialized agencies within their respective mandates, to take all human rights fully into account in their respective activities.
The Council would emphasize the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of human rights based on effective coordination of efforts by United Nations bodies and specialized agencies. The Council would reiterate that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action called for the high-level officials of United Nations bodies and agencies at their annual meeting not only to coordinate their activities but also to assess the impact of their strategies and policies on the enjoyment of all human rights. The Council would reaffirm the importance of ensuring the universality objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human rights issues.
AHMAD AL-HARIRI (Syria) said the situation regarding documentation was getting increasingly. Action had been taken on a document that were not available in all official languages. That was a serious problem. The secretariat was not fulfilling its responsibilities. He placed on record his delegation's dissatisfaction with the situation.
The President, Mr. SOMAVIA (Chile), acknowledged the need for documentation in all languages.
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The Council then adopted the draft agreed conclusions as orally amended.
It went on to take note of the report of the Secretary-General on coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other bodies of the United Nations system related to the coordinated follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (document E/1998/60).
Follow-up to Conferences
The Council took up a draft resolution on the mainstreaming of gender perspective into all policies and prgrammes in the United Nations system submitted by the President of the Council on the basis of informal consultations (document E/1998/L32).
By that text, the Council would request all entities of the United Nations system, in particular the funds and programmes in their operational activities, to adopt a comprehensive, integrated and multisectoral approach to implementing the Beijing Platform for Action. It would decide to pay particular attention to the feminization of poverty, its causes and remedies, when reviewing the theme of poverty eradication in 1999. It would ensure a gender perspective when reviewing the implementation and follow-up of major United Nations conferences and summits, and would request that any documentation to be prepared for that purpose provide an adequate basis to that end.
The Council adopted the text without a vote.
ESTY ANDAYANI (Indonesia), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said they attached great importance to the crucial issue of gender mainstreaming. Some critical areas of concern in the Beijing Platform should also have been taken into account. Such selective approach should be avoided in the future, she said. The Council should continue to oversee the system- wide coordination on the basis of an integrated approach in the implementation of the Platform for Action, including the mainstreaming of the gender perspective. It should also ensure an overall coordination of the follow-up and implementation of the results of all United Nations conferences.
Ms. WORGETTER (Austria), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the text was a good contribution to the agreed conclusions on the mainstreaming of gender perspectives in all United Nations activities.
PATRICIA FLOR (Germany) said, with the resolution, the Council was sending a clear message that the Beijing Platform for Action should be implemented in all sectors. Mainstreaming gender perspectives was an important tool to fight against all kinds of hidden discrimination.
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The Council then took up a draft resolution, submitted by the Council President, Mr. SOMAVIA (Chile), relating to implementation and follow up of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields (document E/1998/L.41).
By the draft text, the Council would decide to hold an informal meeting with panels of experts immediately after its resumed organizational session for 1999, of one or two days duration. The meeting is to consider the work being carried out by the United Nations system, and other relevant international and national institutions, on basic indicators to measure progress towards the implementation of the integrated and coordinated follow- up of the conferences, to take stock and identify overlapping duplication and gaps.
The Council adopted the text without a vote.
NANDHINI KRISHNA (India) said her delegation believed that the exercise should be broadbased, taking account of work done at regional and national levels. It should also cover all aspects of the work on outcome of conferences. The areas of overlap and gaps should not be overlooked. She hoped briefings would be included in the work. Lessons learned from meetings should be integrated into the work of substantive sessions of the Council.
By another draft on major United Nations conferences and summits (document E/1998/L.42), the Council would reiterate that poverty eradication and improving living conditions everywhere were the key development objectives of its efforts to ensure the implementation of the follow-up.
The Council adopted the draft without a vote.
The representative of Canada felt strongly that the action was one of the most productive achievements of the session, and looked forward to a system-wide review of how the conference follow-up had been implemented.
The representative of Indonesia complimented the work done on the draft, and hoped follow up work on conferences would be carried out.
The representative of the United States complimented those facilitators on the work of the draft resolutions.
The representative of Japan also praised the facilitators.
The representative of Chile thanked the speakers for their compliments on an issue of great interest to his country.
The Council went on to take note of the following documents:
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-- report of the Secretary-General on implementation of the agreed conclusions of the 1997 coordination segments of the Economic and Social Council on freshwater, including clean and safe water supply and sanitation (dcument E/1998/56); and
-- statement of commitment of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) for action to eradicate poverty (document E/1998/73).
Implementation of Assembly Resolutions
The Council proceeded to consider a draft resolution on further measures for the restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields, (document E/1998/L.18) submitted by its Vice-President, Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh).
By that text, the Council would adopt the three annexes to the draft.
Annex I provides, inter alia, for the following:
-- The Commission on Science and Technology for Development would remain a functional commission of the Council and would continue to meet biennially for two weeks; UNCTAD would continue to serve as the secretariat of the Commission; the membership of the Commission would be reduced from 53 to 33, with the following geographical distribution: eight members from African States; seven members from Asian States; six members from Latin American and Caribbean States; four members from Eastern European States; and eight members from Western European and other States. The term of office is to be four years.
-- The Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development, and the Committee on Natural Resources would be merged into a single expert body to be named the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development which would serve as a subsidiary body of the Council. The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development which would serve as a subsidiary body of the Council. The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development would comprise, with due attention to geographical representation and gender balance, two sub-groups of twelve experts nominated by Governments and approved by the Economic and Social Council. One sub-group would deal with issues relating to energy, the other with issues relating to water resources. The geographical distribution would be as follows: six members from African States; five members from Asian States; four members from Latin American and Caribbean States; three members from Eastern European States; and six members from Western European and other States. The term of office would be four years. The Committee would meet biennially for two weeks.
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The Council might decide modalities for the establishment of ad hoc expert groups, when necessary, to consider issues relating to minerals.
-- The Committee for Development Planning would be renamed the Committee for Development Policy and would continue to be a subsidiary body of the Council. To comprise 24 independent experts drawn from the fields of economic development, social development and environmental protection, who are able to contribute to energy issues and to the multilevel process. Members will serve for a term of three years. The would be nominated by the Secretary-General and approved by the Council.
The Council would decide to hold, at its resumed substantive session of 1998, elections for the composition of the bodies, so that they would be fully constituted from 1 January 1999. By that draft text, it would decide to terminate, as of 31 December 1998, the current membership of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Committee for Development Planning, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development.
It would also decide to hold new elections for the 33 members of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, while there will be a drawing of lots for all seats to stagger the terms of office. Sixteen members of the Commission will serve for a term of two years (African States - four members; Asian States -- three members; Latin American and Caribbean States -- three members; Eastern European States -- two members; Western European and other States -- four members; Asian States -- four members; Latin American and Caribbean States -- three members; Eastern European States -- two members; Western European and other States -- four members).
It would decide that the election for the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development will be held every four years and the terms of all the members will be concurrent.
HORMILLA CASTRO (Cuba) said her Government attached great importance to the issues connected to the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227 and 52/12 B. She wondered whether it was up to the Council to take note of the report.
MARGARET KELLEY, Committee Secretary said taking note did not imply taking action.
The President, Mr. SOMAVIA (Chile) suggested that delegations should get together to consult on the matter before the start of the final closing session in the afternoon.
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Economic and Environmental Questions
The Council went on to take note of the following documents:
-- report on the thirty-second session of the Committee for Development Planning (document E/1998/34);
-- note by the Secretary-General on consumer protection and guidelines for sustainable development (document E/CN.17/1998/5); and
-- reports of the Secretary-General on development for a vulnerability index for small island developing States (document A/53/65-E/1998/5); on the eighth meeting of the Ad Hoc Group of Experts on International Cooperation matters (document E/1998/57); on implementation of General Assembly resolution 50/225 (document A/53/173-E/1998/87); on the work of the fourteenth meeting of Experts on the United Nations Programme in Public Administration and Finance (document E/1998/77); and on the seventh United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names (document E/1998/47).
HANS-PETER GLANZER (Austria), speaking on behalf of the European Union, on the report of the Committee for Development Planning, said the Union concurred with the Committee on the need for strengthening the architecture of the international monetary system to lessen the frequency and severity of future disturbances. However, it did not see the need to establish a "world financial organization" as suggested by the Committee. The European Union was convinced that the range of functions proposed for such a new organization might, if necessary, be undertaken within existing structures. It did not believe that greater efficiency would be achieved by increasing the number of institutions dealing with the issue.
Regarding suggestions for future work, the European Union welcomed the proposal of the Committee to closely link its work with future discussions in the Council, he added.
SETH WINNICK (United States) said the following should be reflected in the official records of the Council: "The United States has serious concerns regarding the way in which the Committee for Development Planning carried out its work during its thirty-second session, including non-compliance with General Assembly resolution 52/210. The United States does not agree with the recommendations contained in the report". He said the United States looked forward to the discussion of the future work programme of the Committee for Development Planning during the organizational session of the Council when its delegation would address that issue.
Mr. HAPSORO (Indonesia), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said the financial turmoil in East and South-east Asia had become a major concern as stock markets and currencies had plunged throughout the
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region and growing financial volatility had spread adversely, affecting the levels of output, employment and inflation in many countries. The pace and depth of the crises, including their impacts on the lives of a growing number of people in the affected countries, had raised questions about the stability of the international financial system, and about how best to sequence capital market liberalization and to control vulnerability, in particular, concerning short-term capital flows.
He said the recommendations of the Committee for Development Planning could be used in further considerations at an appropriate time and place. The Group of 77 was interested in the recommendation which said that regional development banks, regional funds and cooperative arrangements could assist countries in monitoring the economic situation and raising capital to supplement resources.
YU QINTANI China said members of the Committee for Development Planning were experts serving in their personal capacity, and that the recommendations were their own.
The Council would welcome the reform measures undertaken by the regional commissions and would encourage them to continue to undertake, under the aegis of their respective intergovernmental bodies, further measures to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. It would also express appreciation to the functional commissions for the interest they have taken in reviewing their working methods and would encourage them to continue to do so, taking into account the suggestions and recommendations annexed to the present resolution and to adopt practices best suited to their mandates, priorities and responsibilities.
The President of the Council drew attention to the statement of programme budget implications on the draft resolution.
The statement (document E/1998/L.335) states that should the Council adopt the text, it is estimated that it would result in a reduction of requirements of $152,900 (including $60,000 under section 11A, Trade and development, and $92,900 under section 7A, Economic and social affairs) during the biennium 1998-1999. It is proposed that such reduced requirements be reflected in the first performance report of the programme for the biennium 1998-1999.
Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) Vice-President of the Council, who conducted informal consultations on the text, said the brackets in paragraph 15 of the text should be removed. He also said that the last line of paragraph 13 should read "...in this regard, the Economic and Social Council encourages the Secretary-General to take into account these measures in his report under the agenda item on regional cocoperation in 1999". Paragraph 19 of section D on page 14 covering follow-up would be deleted.
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He said Assembly resolutions 50/227 and 52/12B entrusted the Council to advance the reform process, particularly to make better use of its subsidiary machinery by carrying out its responsibility of providing guidance to them, monitoring and integrating their work. Pursuant to that mandate informal consultations to review the Council's subsidiary bodies had been under way since March 1997. Through the most strenuous efforts, the Council had reviewed four priority bodies, the functional commissions with responsibilities for follow-up to major conferences and the regional commissions. That review had resulted in an agreement on specific measures to streamline and improve the working methods of the Council's subsidiary machinery.
He said the adoption of the proposed package would result in a decrease of the number of members of one of the Council's subsidiary bodies, the mandates of two, and a reduction, for the first time in the recent history of the Council, in real terms of $152,900 during the biennium 1998-1999. "There is hardly any more elementary way of demonstrating our seriousness, commitment and dedication to the reform process than by putting our own house in order and putting the Economic and Social Council in the driver's seat", he added.
Coordination, Programme and Other Questions
The Council then took up a draft resolution submitted by the Vice- President, ANWARUL CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), on the basis of informal consultations (document E/1998/L.40). By its terms, the Council would adopt the suggested guidelines for addressing the year 2000 problem of the computers contained in the annex to the present resolution; and request the Secretary- General to ensure its broad dissemination for maximum utilization by Member States and those areas of the United Nations system that are not yet year-2000 compliant, as a matter of urgency.
The Council then adopted the text without a vote.
The Council took note of the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on its thirty-eighth session (document A/53/16 (Part I) and the annual overview report of the Administrative Committee on Coordination for 1997 (document E/1998/21). RADEN BAGAS HAPSORO (Indonesia) speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said the draft resolution would further enhance the coordination role of the Economic and Social Council. The Group was encouraged by the spirit of participation and flexibility during negotiations on the text. The critical issue however, had been the lack of success in implementing all the provisions of General Assembly resolution 50/227. SUSAN KEPPLER SCHLESINGER (Austria) speaking on behalf of the European Union, congratulated the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in streamlining the work of the Economic and Social Council.
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ALEKSANDR PANKIN (Russian Federation) said his delegation hoped that the resolution would help achieve the full implementation of the reform resolutions adopted by the General Assembly.
HIDEKI ITO (Japan) said his delegation attached great importance to the restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic and social fields. The measures agreed upon in the resolution were steps in the right direction even though they fell short of expectations.
YU QINGTAI (China) said the negotiations on the resolution had not been easy. Many problems had arisen, and agreements had been difficult to reach at times.
LYNETTE POULTON (United States) thanked the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh for his efforts that had finally led to the adoption of the resolution. The restructuring would not only strengthen the work of the commissions but would also give the Economic and Social Council a greater coordination role in the work and functions of those bodies.
RODOLFO REYES RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said the negotiations on the text were marked by a desire for consensus and great flexibility by all delegations. He hoped that guidelines would improve the work of the Council machinery.
ROSS HYNES (Canada) expressed his delegation's appreciation for the leadership of the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh.
Social and Human Rights Questions
The Council next took up the draft decision contained in the extract from the report of the Commission on Human Rights on the freedom of movement and population transfer (document E/1998/L.24). By that draft, the Council would approve the Commission's recommendation that the final report of the Special Rapporteur on the subject be published and widely disseminated.
The President said, following informal consultations yesterday on the draft decision, the text was ready to be adopted on the understanding that it would be implemented in accordance with the usual practice of the Secretariat.
The draft decision was adopted without a vote.
Mr. HAMDAN (Lebanon) said agreement had been reached yesterday to delete the symbol (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/23) from that decision. The significance of that deletion was that the word "final" in the decision might be liberally intepreted to refer not only to the final document, but also to the whole study prepared by the Special Rapporteur which was contained in three documents.
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Mr. GLANZER (Austria), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said it could go along with the deletion of the reference to the document number in draft decision. That would allow some flexibility in editing the final report of the Special Rapporteur. Also, in accordance with the established practice of the publication of final reports of rapporteurs of the subcommission, cross references were included in order to make the final document fully understandable and readable. It should also be made clear that the deletion of the document number did not mean that the Union requested a new report or that previous reports were simply included in the final version.
GABRIEL AKUNKWAFOR (Nigeria), explaining the position of his delegation on the draft decision on the situation of human rights in Nigeria contained in the extract from the report of the Commission on Human Rights, said that situation had dramatically changed within the last two months due to the recent change of leadership. Virtually all political detainees had been released. The new leadership had also dropped all charges against detainees and had called on self-exiled opposition figures to return and participate in the unfolding political programme of returning the country to civilian rule. A political programme culminating in the handing over to a democratically elected civilian administration on 29 May 1999 was already in progress. Further, the international community had been invited to observe the scheduled elections. In light of the foregoing, the resolution was not a reflection of the current human rights situation in Nigeria.
Mr. HYNES (Canada) hoped the Secretariat would ensure the publication of the final report of the Special Rapporteur.
Social and Human Rights Questions
The Council next took up the draft decision contained in the extract from the report of the Commission on Human Rights on the freedom of movement and population transfer (document E/1998/L.24). By that draft the Council would approve the Commission's recommendation that the final report of the special rapporteur on the subject be published and widely disseminated.
The President said following informal consultations yesterday on the draft decision, the text was ready to be adopted on the understanding that it would be implemented in accordance with the usual practice of the Secretariat.
The draft decision was adopted without a vote.
Mr. HAMDAN (Lebanon) said agreement had been reached yesterday to delete the symbol (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/23 from that decision. The significance of that deletion was that the word "final" in the decision might be liberally intepreted to refer not only to the final document but also to the whole study prepared by the special rapporteur which was contained in three documents.
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Mr. GLANZER (Austria), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said it could go along with the deletion of the reference to the document number in draft decision. That would allow some flexibility in editing the final report of the special rapporteur. Also, in accordance with the established practice of the publication of final reports of rapporteurs of the subcommission, cross references were included in order to make the final document fully understandable and readable. It should also be made clear that the deletion of the document number did not mean that the Union requested a new report or that previous reports were simply included in the final version.
GABRIEL AKUNKWAFOR (Nigeria), explaining the position of his delegation on the draft decision on the situation of human rights in Nigeria contained in the extract from the report of the Commission on Human Rights, said that situation had dramatically changed within the last two months due to the recent change of leadership. Virtually all political detainees had been released. The new leadership had also dropped all charges against detainees and had called on self-exiled opposition figures to return and participate in the unfolding political programme of returning the country to civilian rule. A political programme culminating in the handing over to a democratically elected civilian administration on 29 May 1999 was already in progress. Further, the international community had been invited to observe the scheduled elections. In light of the foregoing, the resolution was not a reflection of the current human rights situation in Nigeria.
Mr. HYNES (Canada) hoped the Secretariat would ensure the publication of the final report of the special rapporteur.
The Council then adopted, without a vote, a draft decision submitted by the Vice-President of the Council Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) on the basis of informal consultations (document E/1998/L.48), by which the Council invited the Committee on Social and Cultural Rights to provide updated information on draft decisions recommended at the Committee's sixteenth session. It also decided that no action was required on draft decision IV, given the fact that the dates for the meeting requested had passed. It took note of General Assembly decision 52/463 of 31 March, by which the Assembly would consider the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on the question of honoraria payable to members of organs and subsidiary organs of the United Nations at its fifty-third session.
The Council then took up a draft resolution on the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) (document E/1998/L.36*), submitted by Indonesia on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
ESTI ANDAYANI (Indonesia) said Austria, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Turkey had been added to the list of co-sponsors of the text.
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The Council then adopted the draft resolution without a vote.
By the terms of the draft, the Council called upon regional commissions, specialized agencies and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations to coordinate fully with the Institute and give support to it, particularly in the programming and implementation of joint activities. It also stressed the importance of strengthening the independent research training and compilation of related data bases, which were crucial elements for mainstreaming a gender perspective into policy, planning and implementation.
PRIANTI DJATMIKO-SINGGIH (Indonesia), and on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said consensus had been reached through cooperation and flexibility. She hoped that implementation would help INSTRAW fulfill its mandate and benefit its member countries.
ENGELBERT THEUERMANN (Austria), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said INSTRAW was going through a difficult period, and the text was a genuine effort to strengthen its situation.
The Council than took note of the following documents:
-- the reports of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to and the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (document E/1998/53); implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (document E/1998/51);
-- the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (document A/53/36) and of the Committee on Economic and Social Cultural Rights on its sixteenth and seventeenth sessions (document E/1998/22); and
-- the reports of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (document E/1998/7 and Corr.1) and of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (document (E/1998/84).
Adoption of Agenda and Other Organizational Matters
The Council then took action on draft decision submitted by its President on the dates of sessions of its subsidiary bodies in 1999 (document E/1998/L.44).
It adopted that text without a vote.
The Council approved the following changes in dates of sessions of its subsidiary bodies in 1999: Inter-sessional ad hoc open-ended working groups of the Commission on Sustainable Development, to meet at Headquarters from 22 to 26 February and from 1 to 5 March; the forty-third session of the
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Commission on the Status of Women, Headquarters, from 1 to 19 March; the thirty-second session of the Commission on Population and Development, Headquarters, from 22 to 30 March; the fifty-fifth session of the Commission on Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, from 22 March to 30 April; and the fourth session of the Commission on Science and technology, United Nations Office at Geneva, from 17 to 21 May.
Acting without a vote, the Council then elected Finland to the Commission on Sustainable Development for a term beginning on the date of election and expiring at the close of the Commission's session in 1999. Finland, sponsored by the Western European and other States Group, would take up the seat vacated by Sweden. India was also elected without a vote, to the Programme Coordination Board of the Joint and Co-Sponsored United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS effective 1 January 1999.
Mr. REYES-RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said that delegations had tried to achieve consensus on the report of implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227 and 52/12B, and on the Special Rapporteur for Malaysia, but the matters required more time for consideration. Several delegations were taken by surprise when asked to take note of the report and wanted to have consultations.
The President said that those issues could be taken up in informal consultations at 3. p.m. followed by a formal meeting at 3.30 p.m. to take action on them and to conclude the general segment of the Council.
On agenda and organizational matters, the Council decided to defer consideration of the themes for its 1999 substantive session, contained in draft decision E/1998/L.47, to its afternoon meeting today.
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