WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT, SCIENCE-TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT, BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, AMONG 14 TEXTS APPROVED BY SECOND COMMITTEE

Press Release
GA/EF/2900

WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT, SCIENCE-TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT, BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, AMONG 14 TEXTS APPROVED BY SECOND COMMITTEE

The General Assembly would call on the United Nations system to integrate gender mainstreaming into all its programmes and policies, as proposed by one of 14 texts approved this morning by the Second Committee (Economic and Financial).

The text on women in development, approved without a vote, would also have the Assembly call on Governments to promote family-friendly and gender-sensitive work environments, and to promote the facilitation of breastfeeding for working mothers.

By another text, approved without a vote, the Assembly would call on the landlocked developing countries and their transit neighbours to implement measures to further strengthen their cooperative and collaborative efforts to deal with transit transport issues. In addition, the Secretary-General would be requested to convene in 2001, within the overall level of resources for the biennium 2000-2001, another meeting of governmental experts from landlocked and transit developing countries and representatives of donor countries and financial and development institutions, to explore formulating necessary action-oriented measures.

A text on science and technology for development, also approved without a vote, would have the Assembly invite the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to provide assistance and promote cooperation in the area of partnership and networking, biotechnology, information and communication technologies.

By another text approved without a vote, on developing human resources for development, the Assembly would call on developing countries, with the support of the international community, to establish information, communication and electronic community centres to provide connectivity and access to information and knowledge. It would also call on the developed countries and the United Nations system to increase support to programmes and activities of developing countries for human resources development and capacity-building.

Regarding international migration and development, the Assembly would call on the international community to seek to make the option of remaining in one’s country viable for all people, to which end efforts to achieve sustainable economic and social development, ensuring a better economic balance between developed and developing countries, should be strengthened. Also, it would urge

Second Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/EF/2900 45th Meeting (AM) 1 December 1999

Member States and the United Nations system to strengthen international cooperation to address the root causes of migration, especially those related to poverty. The Committee approved that text without a vote.

The Committee also approved without a vote a text on conservation and sustainable development of Central African forest ecosystems, by whose terms the Assembly would invite the international community to support the countries of Central Africa in their efforts, including through the provision of financial and technical assistance on a regional basis.

By another text approved without a vote, the Assembly would call on the international community to consider supporting the creation of special economic zones and development corridors in the Southern African Development Community, with active participation of the private sector, while recognizing the responsibilities and the ongoing efforts of the countries concerned to create the necessary environment.

By the same text, the Assembly would also call on the international community, particularly the United Nations, to continue to contribute to the promotion of peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to assist in the rehabilitation and economic reconstruction of that country.

Also this morning, with regard to environment and sustainable development, the Committee approved the following texts, without a vote: implementation of and follow-up to the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly; Convention on Biological Diversity; protection of the global climate for present and future generations of mankind; and implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.

By three draft decisions approved this morning, the Assembly would take note of the following documents: the report of the Secretary-General on measures taken in the United Nations system to accelerate progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (A/54/131- E/1999/75); the report of the High-Level Committee on the Review of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries on its eleventh session (1-4 June 1999); a note by the Secretary-General transmitting to the General Assembly the report on the activities of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (A/54/225); the report of the Joint Inspection Unit entitled “An evaluation of the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women” (A/54/156-E/1999/102); and a note by the Secretary-General submitting his comments on the report of the Joint Inspection Unit entitled “An evaluation of the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women” (A/54/156/Add.1-E/1999/102/Add.1).

In other action this morning, the Chairman drew the Committee’s attention to a report of the Secretary-General entitled “Analysis of the organizational structure and the personnel and technical resource of the Non-Governmental Organizations Section of the United Nations Secretariat” (A/54/520).

The representatives of the United States and Algeria also spoke this morning. The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. to take action on further draft resolutions.

Committee Work Programme

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this morning to hear the introduction of, and take action on, a number of draft resolutions.

Macroeconomic policy questions

The Committee had before it a draft resolution (document A/C.2/54/L.48), submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee, Giovanni Brauzzi (Italy), on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.4 on science and technology for development. By the terms of the text, the Assembly would invite the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to provide assistance and promote cooperation in the area of partnership and networking, biotechnology, information and communication technologies, including in the design and implementation of national strategies on such technologies or mechanisms.

By the same terms, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to present to it for consideration at its fifty-fifth session, through the Economic and Social Council, without prejudice to the periodicity of the item, proposals for strengthening the coordination of mechanisms on the Commission on Science and Technology for Development within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in order to ensure coordination of the various efforts and activities in the area of new and innovative technologies, in particular information and communication technologies, and their applications, such as in electronic commerce, with the objective of promoting complementarity of activities within the United Nations system.

Mr. Brauzzi also submitted a draft resolution, based on informal consultations on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.37 on specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries (document A/C.2/54/L.56). The Assembly would call on the landlocked developing countries and their transit neighbours to implement measures to further strengthen their cooperative and collaborative efforts to deal with transit transport issues, including bilateral and subregional cooperation, by such measures as improving the physical infrastructure and non-physical aspects of transit transport systems, strengthening and concluding, where appropriate, bilateral and subregional agreements to govern transit transport operations, developing joint ventures in the area of transit transport and strengthening institutions and human resources dealing with transit transport. He would note that South-South cooperation also plays an important role in this field.

Also, the Assembly would appeal once again to all States, international organizations and financial institutions to implement, as a matter of urgency and priority, the specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries agreed upon in the resolutions and declarations adopted by the General Assembly and the outcome of recent major United Nations conferences relevant to landlocked developing countries, the Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation between Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and the Donor Community, and to take fully into account the agreed recommendations and conclusions of the fourth Meeting of Governmental Experts from Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Representatives of Donor Countries and Financial and Development Institutions.

Further, the Assembly would invite donor countries, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and multilateral financial and development institutions to provide landlocked and transit developing countries with appropriate financial and technical assistance in the form of grants or concessional loans for the construction, maintenance and improvement of their transport, storage and other transit-related facilities, including alternative routes and improved communications, and to promote subregional, regional and interregional projects and programmes, and to consider, such steps as improving the availability and optimal use of the different transport modes and intermodal efficiency along transport corridors.

The Assembly would invite the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in consultation with the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, to take appropriate measures for the effective implementation of the activities called for in the present resolution, and to provide, in accordance with Assembly resolution 52/183, the Office of the Special Coordinator for Least Developed, Landlocked and Island Developing Countries with adequate resources so as to allow it to implement effectively its mandate to continue to support landlocked developing countries.

The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General to convene in 2001, within the overall level of resources for the biennium 2000-2001, another meeting of governmental experts from landlocked and transit developing countries and representatives of donor countries and financial and development institutions, including relevant regional and subregional economic organizations and commissions, to review progress in the development of transit transport systems, including sectoral aspects and transit transportation costs, with a view to exploring the possibility of formulating necessary action-oriented measures.

It would further request the fifth Meeting of Governmental Experts from Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Representatives of Donor Countries and Financial and Development Institutions to consider a proposal made at the fourth Meeting to convene a ministerial meeting on transit transport issues, to give appropriate emphasis to the problems of landlocked and transit developing countries in 2003.

In addition, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General of UNCTAD to seek voluntary contributions to ensure the participation of representatives of landlocked and transit developing countries at the meetings referred to in paragraph 11 of the draft text.

Operational activities for development

Before the Committee was a text submitted by the Vice-Chairman, Daul Matute (Peru), on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.6 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In adopting the text, the Assembly would call on the States Members of the United Nations and organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system that have not yet established contact and relationships with the Community to explore the possibility of doing so. It would also call upon the international community, in particularly the United Nations, to continue to contribute to the promotion of peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to assist in the rehabilitation and economic reconstruction of that country.

The Assembly would call on the international community to consider supporting the creation of special economic zones and development corridors in the Community, with active participation of the private sector, while recognizing the responsibilities and the ongoing efforts of the countries concerned to create the necessary environment, including the appropriate legal and economic framework for such activities. It would also call upon the international community to support the efforts of the Community to address the consequences, new challenges and opportunities presented to the economies of the region by the process of globalization and liberalization.

Environment and sustainable development

The Committee had before it another draft resolution, also submitted by its Vice-Chairman, on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.23, on implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (document A/C.2/54/L.50). By its terms, the Assembly would call on governments, the regional commissions and organizations and other intergovernmental organizations to take into account those areas identified in the review document for priority action, and urge them to take the action necessary for the further implementation and effective follow-up of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. It would also call on UNCTAD to give substantive consideration in its work to the Declaration and review document adopted by the Assembly at its twenty-second special session, for the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action, including in its preparations for the tenth Ministerial Meeting of UNCTAD.

Further, it would call on all stakeholders, in particular local communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector, to take the action necessary for the further implementation and effective follow-up of the Barbados Programme of Action.

In addition, the Assembly would invite the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) to consider, in its work programme matters relating to the further implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action, bearing in mind the report of the General Assembly on its twenty-second special session. Also, the Assembly would urge all relevant organizations to finalize, preferably before the end of the year 2000, the work on the development of a vulnerability index, in particular for the small island developing States, which would assist in defining the vulnerability of those States and in identifying the challenges to their sustainable development, for consideration by the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly at the appropriate time.

The Committee had before it a draft resolution, also submitted by Mr. Matute, on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.7, on conservation and sustainable development of Central African forest ecosystems (document A/C.2/54/L.51). By the terms of the text, the Assembly would invite the international community to support the countries of Central Africa in these efforts, including through the provision of financial and technical assistance on a regional basis. It would encourage the international community, including the Global Environment Facility and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests, when considering ways and means of achieving the conservation and sustainable management of all types of forests to take into account the forests of the Central African subregion.

Also before the Committee was a draft resolution submitted by Mr. Matute, based on informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.14, on the implementation of and follow-up to the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly (document A/C.2/54/L.58). By the terms of the draft, the Assembly would call on the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) to continue to complement and provide interlinkages to the work of other United Nations organs, organizations and bodies active in the field of sustainable development. It would call on the CSD to play its role in assessing the opportunities and challenges of globalization as they relate to sustainable development, and to perform its functions in coordination with other subsidiary bodies of the Economic and Social Council and with related organizations and institutions, including making recommendations to the Council, bearing in mind the interrelated outcomes of recent United Nations conferences.

The Assembly would further renew its request to the CSD’s secretariat to invite governments to submit proposals on how to improve the guidelines on the elaboration of national reports and, based on the information received, to prepare a report to be submitted to the Commission as part of the preparations for the comprehensive review of the implementation of Agenda 21. It would invite the relevant functional commissions, which are implementing chapters of Agenda 21, as well as regional commissions to provide reports, through the Economic and Social Council in view of its coordination function, on how their activities are contributing to the implementation of Agenda 21, and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 for the consideration of the Assembly at its fifty- fifth session.

The Assembly would also invite the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to consider how the activities of UNEP are contributing to the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and to submit its views to the Assembly at the earliest opportunity.

Further, the Assembly would invite the Global Environment Facility, in the course of its regular work, to provide a report on how its activities are contributing to the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 for the consideration of the Assembly at its fifty- fifth session.

The Assembly would also invite the secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, to provide reports on how their activities are contributing to the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, for the consideration of the Assembly at its fifty-fifth session.

Also, the Secretary-General would be invited, while preparing the report requested by the Assembly in paragraph 6 of its resolution 53/188, to take into account the preliminary discussions at the CSD’s eighth session and the in Economic and Social Council, and to include in this report proposals for the analytical reports to be prepared for the review process.

Mr. Matute also submitted a text, based on informal consultations on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.18 on protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind (document A/C.2/54/L.54). By the terms of the text, the Assembly would decide to include in the calendar of conferences and meetings for the biennium 2000-2001 the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies envisaged for that biennium, in accordance with the decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties.

The Assembly would call on all States parties to continue to take effective steps to implement their commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. It would request the Secretary-General to review the functioning of this institutional linkage [of the Convention secretariat to the United Nations] not later than 31 December 2001, in consultation with the Conference of the Parties, with a view to making such modifications as may be considered desirable by both parties, and to report thereon to the Assembly.

Also before the Committee was another draft resolution submitted by Mr. Matute, based on informal consultations on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.15, on the Convention on Biological Diversity (document A/C.2/54/L.55). It would have the Assembly call on Governments, in cooperation with the Conference of the Parties, to use science-based analysis to study and monitor closely the evolution of new technologies to prevent possible adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, which might have an impact on farmers and local communities. It would also call on States parties to the Convention to settle urgently any arrears and to pay their contributions in full and in a timely manner, so as to ensure continuity in the cash flows required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the subsidiary bodies and the Convention secretariat.

In addition, the Assembly would invite all funding institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as regional funding institutions and NGOs, to cooperate with the secretariat of the Convention in the implementation of the programme of work. It would also invite the Executive Secretary of the Convention to report to the Assembly on the ongoing work regarding the Convention.

Sustainable development and international economic cooperation

Before the Committee was a draft resolution, submitted by Vice-Chairman Alexandru Niculescu (Romania) on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.21 on women in development (document A/C.2/54/L.52). The Assembly would call for the accelerated and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the relevant provisions contained in the outcomes of all other major United Nations conferences and summits. In this regard, it would express the hope that the special session of the Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", which will be held from 5 to 9 June 2000, can take tangible and significant steps to enhance the effective participation of women in development. It would call on Governments to promote, inter alia through legislation, family-friendly and gender-sensitive work environments, and also to promote the facilitation of breastfeeding for working mothers. Further, the Assembly would call on the international community to make efforts to mitigate the effects of excess volatility and economic disruption, which have a disproportionately negative impact on women, and to enhance trade opportunities for developing countries in order to improve the economic conditions of women. It would also call on developed countries to strengthen their efforts to achieve, as soon as possible, the agreed target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for overall official development assistance (ODA) and, where agreed, within that target to earmark 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of gross national product for the least developed countries (LDCs), so as to assist the developing countries in implementing strategies to eradicate poverty and promote development and gender equality.

Further, the Assembly would call on the United Nations system to integrate gender mainstreaming into all its programmes and policies, including in the integrated follow up to United Nations conferences, in accordance with agreed conclusions 1997/2 on gender mainstreaming, adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1997.

Mr. Niculescu also submitted a draft resolution, based on informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.11 on international migration and development, including the convening of a United Nations conference on international migration and development (document A/C.2/54/L.53). It would have the Assembly call on all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations, within their continuing mandated activities, to continue to address the issue of international migration and development, and to provide appropriate support for interregional, regional and subregional processes and activities on international migration and development.

It would also call on the international community to seek to make the option of remaining in one’s country viable for all people, to which end efforts to achieve sustainable economic and social development, ensuring a better economic balance between developed and developing countries, should be strengthened. Further, the Assembly would urge Member States and the United Nations system to strengthen international cooperation in the area of international migration and development to address the root causes of migration, especially those related to poverty, and to maximize the benefits of international migration to those concerned.

Human Resources Development

The Committee had before it a text, submitted by Mr. Niculescu, based on informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.10, on developing human resources for development (document A/C.2/54/L.57). The text would have the Assembly call on developing countries, with the support of the international community, to establish information, communication and electronic community centres, where appropriate and in cooperation with the private sector, to provide connectivity and access to information and knowledge. It would also call on the developed countries and the United Nations system to increase support to programmes and activities of developing countries for human resources development and capacity-building, particularly those geared towards harnessing information and communication technologies.

The Assembly would urge increased investments in all aspects of human development, such as education and training, health and nutrition, to achieve universal coverage and the well-being of all. It would also urge the adoption of comprehensive approaches to human-resources development which combine factors such as economic growth, provision of basic social services, poverty eradication, sustainable livelihoods, empowerment of women, involvement of youth, the needs of vulnerable groups of society, political freedom, popular participation, respect for human rights, justice and equity, all of which are essential for enhancing human capacity to meet the challenges of development.

Further, the Assembly would invite international organizations, including international financial institutions, to continue to give priority to supporting the objectives of human-resources development and to integrating them into their policies, programmes and operations. In addition, it would request the Secretary- General to include in his reports to the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session an assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of the contribution made by the United Nations system to advance human resources development in developing countries through its operational activities, and to make recommendations to further enhance its impact.

Report of the Economic and Social Council

Before the Committee was a report of the Secretary-General on analysis of the organizational structure and the personnel and technical resources of the Non- Governmental Organizations Section of the United Nations Secretariat (document A/54/520). The report was prepared pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/34, in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Assembly, at the main part of its fifty-fourth session, containing an analysis of the organizational structure and the technical, personnel and financial resources of the NGOs Section of the United Nations Secretariat, commensurate with the increased workload and the level of responsibility necessary to implement the Secretariat’s mandate as contained in Council resolution 1996/31, parts X and XI.

The report analyses the Section activities which are required to handle the workload of the Committee on NGOs and to meet the growing needs of a rapidly expanding non-governmental community seeking participation in the work of the United Nations, as follows: a. Section II details the work performed by the Section on a regular basis. Key tasks are described, with an estimate of the staff time in work/months that will be required for each task during the biennium 2000/2001. It also describes special projects undertaken in 1999 and those proposed for the 2000/2001 biennium to increase the Section’s effectiveness and efficiency in providing support to the Committee of NGOs, the Council and the broader United Nations system as related to NGO matters; b. Section III describes the outreach and liaison activities of the Non-Governmental Organizations Section; c. Section IV provides details of the organization and structure of the Non- Governmental Organizations Section.

The report concludes that the crowded agenda for the year 2000, with the preparation of the various millennium-related events, will substantially increase the workload of the Non-Governmental Organizations Section and further challenge the Section to find new ways to meet its goals.

Action on draft resolutions macroeconomic policy questions

Committee Vice-Chairman Giovanni Brauzzi (Italy) introduced draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.56, on the basis of informal consultations held on draft decision A/C.2/54/L.37, entitled “specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries”. The Secretariat had previously told the Committee that paragraphs 11 and 15 of the draft dealt with administrative and budgetary matters. Resources for activities had been included in the relevant sections of the proposed budget programme for the biennium 2000/2001, which was currently under discussion in the Fifth Committee.

The draft resolution, with oral amendment to the French text, was approved without a vote, and draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.37 was withdrawn by its sponsors.

Mr. Brauzzi then introduced the draft text entitled “science and technology for development” (document A/C.2/54/L.48), based on informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.4.

The draft, as orally revised in the French text, was approved without a vote, and draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.4 was withdrawn by its sponsors.

Sustainable Development and International Economic Cooperation

The Committee’s Vice-Chairman Alexandru Niculescu (Romania) introduced draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.52, entitled “women in development”, on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.21. He said that in the second line of operative paragraph 11 the words “as men” should be inserted after “equal rights”.

Since further corrections were needed in the draft, no action was taken.

Mr. Niculescu then introduced the draft resolution entitled “developing human resources for development” (document A/C.2/54/L.57), based on informal consultations on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.10.

The resolution was approved without a vote, and draft decision A/C.2/54/L.10 was withdrawn by its sponsors.

Sustainable development and international economic cooperation

Mr. Brauzzi introduced the draft text entitled “international migration and development”, as contained in A/C.2/54/L.53, and noted some minor revisions to preambular paragraph nine and operative paragraph six.

The Committee approved the text, without a vote, as orally revised.

Environment and sustainable development

Mr. MATUTE introduced the text entitled “conservation and sustainable development of Central African forest ecosystems”, as contained in A/C.2/54/L.51.

The Committee approved the text without a vote.

Mr. Matute then introduced the text contained in A/C.2/54/L.58, entitled “implementation of and follow-up to the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly”.

The representative of India noted some minor revisions to the text in operative paragraph 5. The Committee approved the text, as orally revised, without a vote.

The Chairman of the Committee, Roble Olhaye (Djibouti), then introduced the following draft decision: “The General Assembly takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on measures taken in the United Nations system to accelerate progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (A/54/131-E/1999/75).”

The Committee approved the decision without a vote.

Mr. Matute introduced draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.55 entitled “Convention Biological Diversity”, based on informal consultations on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.15.

The draft was approved without a vote, and draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.15 was withdrawn by its sponsors.

Regarding the program budget implications of draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.54, the Secretariat noted that should the General Assembly adopt the resolution, the related expenses could be accommodated, and no additional provisions would be required.

Mr. Matute then introduced draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.54, entitled “protection of the global climate for present and future generations of mankind”, based on informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.18.

The representative of the United States said that his delegation had concerns about the conference servicing costs. Those costs should now be borne by the Parties to the Convention. However, he would not breach consensus.

Draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.54 was approved without a vote, and draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.18 was withdrawn by its sponsors.

Mr. Matute introduced the text contained in A/C.2/54/L.50, entitled "implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States".

The Committee approved the text without a vote.

Next, Mr. Matute introduced the draft entitled "cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community", as contained in A/C.2/54/L.49.

The text was approved by the Committee without a vote.

The representative of Canada announced that during consultations Canada had joined as a co-sponsor of draft text A/C.2/54/L.50, entitled "implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States".

The Chairman then proposed the following draft decision: “The General Assembly takes note of the following documents: Report of the High-Level Committee on the Review of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries on its eleventh session (1-4 June 1999); and Note by the Secretary-General transmitting to the General Assembly the report on the activities of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (A/54/225).” The draft decision was approved without a vote.

The Committee then returned to the text on women in development (A/C.2/54/L.52). Mr. Niculescu noted a revision to operative paragraph 11 of the text.

The text was approved, as orally revised, without a vote.

Following that, the Chairman proposed the following draft decision: “The General Assembly takes note of the following documents: Report of the Joint Inspection Unit entitled ‘An evaluation of the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women’ (A/54/156-E/1999/102); and Note by the Secretary-General submitting his comments on the report of the Joint Inspection Unit entitled ‘An evaluation of the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women’ (A/54/156/Add.1-E/1999/102/Add.1).

The draft decision was approved without a vote.

Report of the Economic and Social Council

Mr. Olhaye introduced the report of the Secretary-General entitled “analysis of the organizational structure and the personnel and technical resources of the Non-Governmental Organizations Section of the United Nations Secretariat” (document A/54/520).

The Secretariat informed the Committee that Slovakia would have abstained from voting on draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.40 (“Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries”), had it been present during the vote. Further, Panama would have voted in favour of draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.32 (“Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources”) had it been present during the vote.

The representative of Algeria asked what the relationship was between the report and the work of the Committee. Even though the report had been submitted to the Second Committee for information purposes, he thought it should be considered by the Fifth Committee. The report was distributed only this morning, even though it had been available since September. His delegation would like to have clarification on the purpose of that information. What was the status of the report? Had the report already been submitted to another committee?

On behalf of the Secretariat, Mr. Khan said the report had been prepared in response to a request by the Economic and Social Council. The report went to the Second and the Fifth Committee, and had been available since 24 September. There had been no item under which it could be considered by the Second Committee other than item 12 (“report of the Economic and Social Council”), and that item was considered both by the Second and the Fifth Committee. That was why the report had been brought to the attention of both committees: it was simply a technical requirement to be fulfilled.

The representative of Algeria said the report was meant for the Fifth Committee. Having the Second Committee informed was useful, but not important.

The Secretariat announced that had Ethiopia been present during voting, it would have voted in favour of draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.40 (“Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries”).

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