SECOND COMMITTEE CALLS FOR STEPS TO COMBAT CORRUPT PRACTICES, BRIBERY; APPEALS FOR RESOURCES FOR HABITAT II IMPLEMENTATION

Press Release
GA/EF/2903

SECOND COMMITTEE CALLS FOR STEPS TO COMBAT CORRUPT PRACTICES, BRIBERY; APPEALS FOR RESOURCES FOR HABITAT II IMPLEMENTATION

Defers Action on Poverty Eradication Decade

The General Assembly would condemn corruption, bribery, money-laundering and the illegal transfer of funds, according to one of two draft texts approved this afternoon by the Second Committee (Economic and Financial). The Committee postponed action on a third draft resolution.

Approved without a vote, the draft resolution on illegal transfer of funds from developing countries would have the Assembly call for further international and national measures to combat corrupt practices and bribery in international transactions. It would call for increased international cooperation to prevent and address illegal transfers, as well as repatriate illegally transferred funds to countries of origin.

Also approved without a vote, the draft text on implementation of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) would have the Assembly call on all countries to ensure the provision of sufficient financial resources for the successful implementation of the work programme for the biennium 2000-2001. The Assembly would reiterate the recognition by the Commission on Human Settlements that such implementation would require substantial additional funding.

The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General to ensure that the staffing of the new organizational structure is completed in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical representation and gender balance, including in particular improving the status of women in the Secretariat. Further, it would stress the importance of strengthening the United Nations Office at Nairobi as the only United Nations headquarters located in a developing country.

Also this afternoon, the Committee postponed action on a draft resolution on implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006).

The representatives of Nigeria and Kenya spoke.

The Committee will meet again on a date to be announced in the Journal.